Stevens Named Starting Quarterback

August 22, 2019 | Football

Watch: Moorhead Announces Starting QB Tommy Stevens' Bio

STARKVILLE – Head football coach Joe Moorhead announced Thursday afternoon that Tommy Stevens has been named Mississippi State's starting quarterback.

Quotes from head coach Joe Moorhead's media session – Aug. 22, 2019

Opening Statement …
"Just wanted to get everyone together. We had our final scrimmage in the stadium yesterday, which kind of wraps up our fall camp prep against each other before we turn to opponent preparation. I thought it has been an incredibly productive camp. I think our coaches did a very good job providing the players with the information. Players did a good job transitioning that to the walk-throughs and on to the field."

Every day I marvel how competitive our practices are. In 21 years of doing this, every time we stepped on the field and it is offense versus defense or special teams drill, our kids have a unique ability and desire to compete. I thought our productivity and execution increased on a daily basis and we challenged them to walk off the field better than when we stepped on it. I think we saw that and am certainly excited about where we are and where we're going."

With that said, we talked about naming a starting quarterback. I had the opportunity to meet with both guys (Tommy Stevens and Keytaon Thompson) earlier this afternoon and I just informed the team. It was a great, great competition. Both guys are similarly sized and provide equal threats in the run game. We said the decision making was going to come down to who could create explosive plays, who could minimize turnovers and who can throw the ball with the best accuracy on a consistent manner."

Tommy jumped out strong at the beginning of camp. Closing into the first scrimmage, KT (Thompson) closed the gap and had a real nice first scrimmage. From that point forward, Tommy created separation and did that towards the tail end of camp. So we told both guys and informed the team that Tommy Stevens has earned the right to be the starting quarterback for us this year. We're certainly excited what KT did and how he performed. He is going to be an incredibly valuable asset for us and we're going to need him to win a game for us this year."

Also, really fired up about our two young guys (Garrett Shrader and Jalen Mayden), particularly Garrett Shrader who did some really, really good things. So I'm excited about the quarterback position."

On Keytaon Thompson …
"Like any competitor, particularly one in this conference playing at that position, I won't say he took it well and that is not what I want to infer. But he certainly understood what the process was and understood what the decision-making criteria was. He wants to be the starter like anybody else on the team but understands we have a job to do and we had a decision to make and what we based it off of. He respected that and I told him just like any other No. 2 on the team, he's one play from being the No. 1. He can't get into a backup mentality and he will come out on Friday when we start Louisiana prep and he's going to get after it."

On what stood out about Wednesday's scrimmage …
"We put our 1s and 2s against the guys that may end up being on the scout team for the year with a couple of exceptions. We wanted to be sharp, crisp, and penalty-free and see our offense move the ball up and down the field and operate. Then see the defense get some three-and-outs and get the special teams in there. More than anything, it was a dry run for the coaching staff, as well."

We started from the meetings ending, getting on the bus, dropping them off at the Dawg Walk. We did the Dawg Walk and into the locker room and did our whole pregame routine, which with new players and new coaches, you'd be surprised at the people knowing where to go and not knowing where to go. We got into a half-of-football and got into some special teams situations. I thought it was a good teaching experience, a good learning experience. You feel good about where we are in all three phases are coming out of it."

On Tommy Stevens' knowledge of the offense when he got to campus …
"When you're a quarterback essentially in year four if you want to call it that, you can hit the ground running and not have to go somewhere and learn something completely new. I think it made the transition a lot quicker."

On how the team has welcomed graduate transfers Tommy Stevens and Isaiah Zuber …
"I think really how the position groups and the offense and the team has welcomed those guys in is really a microcosm of where I feel we are as a team relative to of our culture. I think the two biggest things that I've seen us improve is our leadership and our chemistry. So there hasn't been a deal where, hey, this is a new guy trying to take my job. You see the receivers coaching up the guys who are new, whether it be a grad transfer or a freshman. The bond among the quarterbacks is very strong, too, quite frankly in a room where that's not always the case. I think that's been a very positive aspect of this camp of how unified we've been across the ball."

On the depth chart …
"We have tomorrow, Saturday and all next week. We went over the initial depth chart for this game this morning in a staff meeting. We went over the travel roster. We will get to Sunday that will be a helmets-only practice and then we start teeing it up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday practicing in pads. We have a good idea of what the two-deep is going to be. Certainly there's time between now and then for that thing to get erased. Not erased but to make the necessary changes."

On how Isaiah Zuber has adjusted to his position and new school …
"He had a real nice day yesterday. He caught some nice passes yesterday and it was kinda the opposite of what we said about Tommy (Stevens). He's a guy coming in having to learn the offense completely new. I think wide receivers coach Michael Johnson has done a real nice job, he and the other guys. What I like about Isaiah is his versatility. He's not just a guy that can play in the slot. He can jump out and play both outside receiver positions. Same way with JaVonta Payton. I think both of those guys have done well as first-year players."

On his comfortability with the cornerbacks …
"Real good. Cameron Dantzler, I think is one of the best in the SEC and the country and has played like it. I've seen steady improvements in his, I don't want to say confidence, but he has taken his game to the next level. I think that comes with his work with coach Cory Bichey and the strength staff. He's bigger, more filled-out, and more explosive. I thought Maurice Smitherman was the most improved player in spring ball and has carried that on."

Then you have a couple more guys – Korey Charles and Tyler Williams – and then Martin Emerson and Jarrian Jones and some guys behind them. So I like the depth and I also like the talent at that position, as well."

On what Tommy Stevens gives you at the quarterback position …
"As a coach or offensive coordinator, you work to do your best to tailor your team around the strengths of your players. Obviously, Nick Fitzgerald was an excellent runner and the SEC's all-time leading rusher at that position. So we're going to build it around what the kids do well. I think as we talked about since the end of last season, for us to take the next step offensively, we need to strike the cord of balance in the run and pass game. And I think Tommy's arm strength, his ability to read and his accuracy will allow us to take that positive step forward in the pass game."

On deciding what guys will redshirt or play as true freshmen this year …
"We've got the initial list done and we will review that again on Sunday. I don't want to say a good number but there are freshmen that we have earmarked and identified that are going to play this year. We have a few in the yellow column and some in the red. There are true freshmen entering the season that we are saying are going to play, whether they be offense, defense or special teams. They have green lights and are good to go."