UNLV head coach has named JUCO transfer Johnny Stanton the starting quarterback for the season opener against Jackson State, head coach Tony Sanchez relayed the news to the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a text message.
Stanton has been battling with junior Kurt Palandech dating back to spring practice, and at that time Sanchez listed both as co-starter but gave the edge to Stanton.
"Stanton's a little bit ahead. That's why we gave him the start in the (spring) game, just for his ability to be a natural thrower," Sanchez said back in April. "A lot of coaches want to bring in their guy. I don't really care about that. I want us to win."
That player seems to be Stanton but the plan for the season opener against Jackson State was always to play both players, so expect Palandech to see some action on Sept. 1.
“I’ll be honest with you … both guys are going to play in Game 1,” Sanchez said after the teams final scrimmage of fall camp. “I think one guy’s going to be named the starter, and he’ll start to get the majority of the reps. But you’re going to see whoever the No. 2 is at some point in the first half.”
Playing two quarterbacks against an FCS team is easy to but what will be the plan when UNLV goes on the road to face UCLA on Sept. 10.