The same weekend a former Boise State quarterback great was feted, the future of the position gained some additional clarity as well.
Prior to Saturday’s spring game, Kellen Moore, the football program’s all-time passing leader and winner of 50 games in a career that ended in 2011, was honored by the Broncos during a pregame ceremony. Shortly thereafter, the quarterback competition to replace Grant Hedrick continued, with Ryan Finley once again reaffirming to most observers that he will enter the summer as the front-runner for the job -- even as his coaches will wait until the first couple of weeks of summer camp before officially anointing anyone.
“He’s done well,” head coach Bryan Harsin said according to the Idaho Press-Tribune. “He’s put himself in a position to have the most experience out of those guys. He was the guy ready to play had Grant (Hendrick) gone down last year. He’s improved, and he’s taken advantage of that.”
“He’s had a good spring,” offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz added. “This competition is open, and this competition is going to stay open until coach Harsin says it’s no longer open. But the reality is he’s had a good spring.”
In addition to the redshirt sophomore Finley, the open competition includes redshirt sophomore Tommy Stuart, true freshman Brett Rypien and redshirt freshman Alex Ogle. None of those three players have attempted a pass at the collegiate level.
As Hedrick’s primary backup in 2014, Finley completed 12-of-27 passes for 161 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.