Ryan Katz Named San Diego State Starting Quarterback

Head coach Rocky Long has made a choice for his starting quarterback and after going through a spring and a week of fall camp evaluating, the starter will be former Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz. Despite that Adam Dingwell was in the system for a year, Katz was able to beat him out.

Long said that the choice to choose Katz over Dingwell was not an easy decision:

"I don't think it's a clear-cut decision," Long said after the Aztecs' first of two practices on Monday. "But as I've told you, I believe that you have to name a starter so that he gets a lot of reps with the first team so that he's sharp when he gets to the first game. I think you do a disservice when you alternate or don't have a starter."

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"(Katz) has been the most consistent quarterback," Long said. "He's not always the best on that day, but overall, he's had more good days. ... He's very accurate with the football. Adam's got control of the huddle, too."

Katz was not made available after practice to discuss him winning the quarterback position. However, outside of have more good days and being more consistent in practice, Long also said that Katz's experience as a starter at Oregon State also played into naming him the starter.

The decision by Long to name a starter now even though the competition was close is because Long wants one guy in charge of the offense and taking the first team reps.

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