The stage is officially set for a passing of the quarterback torch down on The Farm.
In a Week 3 upset loss to San Diego State, Stanford’s Keller Chryst had his most disappointing and unproductive day as the Cardinal’s starting quarterback, completing just 11 passes -- two of which were caught by Aztec defenders -- for 72 yards. A week later, Chryst was injured in the first quarter of the UCLA game and was replaced by K.J. Costello, with the redshirt freshman throwing for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13-of-19 passing -- he added a rushing score for good measure -- in helping to snap a two-game losing streak.
There were some calls throughout the week for Costello to replace Chryst as the starter for this weekend’s home game against Arizona State. Chryst’s injury situation, though, makes such talk a moot point -- for now..@kj_costello will start at quarterback Saturday vs. Arizona State. @KellerChryst will not dress for the game. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/5EiNM8BkLm
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 29, 2017
Saturday’s game will mark the first career start for Costello, a four-star 2016 signee who was rated as the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the country in that year’s class. For the season, Costello has completed 18-of-28 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also totaled 40 yards and two touchdowns on three carries.