Elson mum on starting QB job

Three days after redshirt freshman Kawaun Jakes had the best statistical game by a Western Kentucky quarterback in nearly three years, head coach David Elson wasn’t exactly forthcoming about who his starting quarterback is.

With senior Brandon Smith still rehabbing a shoulder injury (Smith is day-to-day and didn’t practice Tuesday), Elson said the decision will be based on which player gives the team the best chance to win with each passing day.

On Tuesday, Jakes got the full slate of reps with the first team, but once Smith gets healthy – it remains to be seen what the call will be.

Elson said he wasn’t sure when a decision on the matter would be made, and did say that he wouldn’t be using the philosophy he used a year ago about a player’s injury not being the sole result of him losing his job.

If you recall, former QB K.J. Black went down in the second game of the season last year against Eastern Kentucky – leaving David Wolke to take over the offense for the next two and a half games. When Black was ready to go two weeks later, though, he was given his starting job back – despite Wolke’s decent performances in two games. 

Obviously the situation “worked itself out” (or something like that) when Black decided to leave the program immediately after his next start. But something tells me the situation won’t be the same this time around.

It’s no secret as to which quarterback has performed better, and personally I’d be shocked if Jakes doesn’t get the start in two weeks against Florida International, but as of right now – Elson isn’t saying anything.

I’ll have more on this in Wednesday’s Daily News.

~ by Nick Baumgardner on September 30, 2009.