Utah Utes defensive end Van Fillinger (7) grabs the arm of Utah State Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) in Logan on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
For many, if not most, Bryson Barnes is the presumed starting quarterback for Utah State. For good reason too.
“Whether anyone says it out loud, (QB) is the most important position on the team. And (the QB) determines trajectory more than maybe even the head coach.”
USU football Bronco Mendenhall
Barnes — a transfer from the University of Utah — is by far the most experienced quarterback on the Aggies’ roster, having played in 25 games over four college seasons.
He’s been a starter at a Power Four conference level, albeit due to injury, and was a record-breaking QB last season for Utah State while being the primary backup to Spencer Petras.
He’s a dual-threat QB, the kind of quarterback new USU head coach Bronco Mendenhall prefers, and has good size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) for the position.
It is fair for anyone that took in Utah State games against Robert Morris, Hawaii, San Diego State and Colorado State last season to come away thinking Barnes was going to be the next great Aggie QB.
When at his best, Barnes was a game-breaker and he deserves a lot of credit for three of Utah State’s four wins in 2024.
There is a chance that Barnes won’t be the Aggies’ starting quarterback, though.
Mendenhall is happy with the overall quality and depth of his quarterback room, which includes Barnes, and fellow returners Jacob Conover and CJ Tiller, along with newcomers in Anthony Garcia, Levi Manning and Braden Siri.
“I like our quarterback room,” Mendenhall said on National Signing Day. “I think we are deep. I think we are competitive and that gives our program a great chance to have success. Really excited about them.”
And as USU’s new…
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Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2025-02-13 22:30:00
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