Quarterback Competition In Final Stretch
August 31, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
Will Rogers and Chance Lovertich have each had strong camps for the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – For about a month now, Mississippi State's quarterback competition has been underway. Incumbent starter Will Rogers and transfer Chance Lovertich have each gone back and forth in the training camp position battle to see who'll guide the MSU offense.
Now only days away from the season opener, Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach is clear. There's a leader, but the competition will roll on leading up to Saturday's 3 p.m. kickoff against Louisiana Tech.
"Right now, Will's ahead," Leach said after practice on Tuesday. "I think the biggest thing is Will is more consistent and more familiar with the personnel and the plays. But I do think Chance does a good job and has had a great camp. Certainly he's in a position to take it, but I think Will's ahead right now."
It's little surprise Rogers is the frontrunner at this point. A year spent in Leach's Air Raid Offense gives a tremendous advantage. In 2020, a freshman Rogers took over starting duties midseason and seemingly improved by the week, setting numerous records along the way. The Brandon native has continued to take strides in the months since.
On Tuesday, Leach praised Rogers' quicker decision making as compared to a year ago, along with a tireless work ethic and commitment to get better.
"He constantly studies film," Leach said of Rogers. "It's not like he lets the film blur along. He draws quite a bit out of it. Some guys watch film because they should, some because they want to, or some because they know [the coaches] want them to, which means they don't get much out of it. His dad is a coach, so I think that helps him know how to watch film. Will does get quite a bit out of it when he watches it."
Make no mistake though, Lovertich is no stranger to hard work himself. In fact, Rogers and his fellow signal caller are frequently bouncing ideas off of one another, each committed to helping one another learn and grow.
"They do it all the time," Leach said of the communication between Rogers and Lovertich. "They do it during team meetings, and you'll hear them. They do it walking on and off the field. Chance is a good student, and he is always watching film. They are both that way, constantly talking about football."
And they'll almost assuredly continue to do it this week as well. Rogers will do so attempting to cement his place at the top of the depth chart. Lovertich, meanwhile, will keep battling and pushing for the spot himself. In the end, the competition can do nothing but make both Bulldog quarterbacks better for whatever roles they are called on to play in 2021.
