Denarius McGhee is Montana State's new starting quarterback. It was shocking news to some, but not to Jason D'Alba.
On Tuesday, the Bobcats handed the keys to their season and future to a redshirt freshman and not to Cody Kempt, a fifth-year senior with 14 college starts - including one 'Cat-Griz game and one Oregon-Oregon State Civil War game, and D'Alba, MSU's senior defensive tackle didn't bat an eye.
It's mostly because D'Alba doesn't look at McGhee and see a kid who hasn't taken a snap since high school. He sees a kid who had the guts to put his team's biggest, eldest defensive lineman in his place.
"We were running gassers," the 6-foot-2, 285-pound D'Alba said, recalling a voluntary summer workout. "I was feeling it and I went down to a knee. Denarius lifted me up by my shoulders, got in my face and told me he didn't want to see me or anyone else on the ground.
"He's very mature for someone his age. He's not afraid call out anyone on the team."
It separates McGhee from all four of the mild-mannered quarterbacks MSU head coach Rob Ash has had in his system the past four years - even if little else did.
"We had the two seniors my first year with Jack Rolovich and Cory Carpenter," Ash said Tuesday. "Then we had (Mark) Iddins and Kempt battling it out the last two years, now Cody and Denarius. They've all be tough, but this year it was an especially difficult decision for us."
Making the choice to start a freshman over a senior always is. But having McGhee made it a little easier, Ash said.
"Both these quarterbacks are terrific players, but Denarius just has some special qualities that we really like," Ash said. "The team has a lot of confidence in him. He's a guy that never gives up on a play or a series or a game. His leadership is pretty spectacular.
"He has a spirit that we felt we wanted to run with."
It wasn't just a gut feeling about the "it factor" that landed McGhee this opportunity, though. Ash said McGhee also emerged as the top quarterback based on statistical analysis.
"The numbers were very close, but Denarius was just a little bit ahead in all things - percentage of completions, touchdown production and so forth," Ash said.
McGhee's abilities as an elusive scrambler and playmaker also ended up working in his advantage.
"He can respond when things break down," Ash said. "We were seeing Cody make progress in that area too. I think they're both capable in that area, but Denarius probably has a little bit of an edge."
Despite the razor-thin line that seems to be separating McGhee and Kempt, Ash said MSU is not looking to rotate quarterbacks in 2010.
"Denarius is the starter," Ash said. "This isn't a short-term decision. (McGhee) is going to be the starter and he'll be the starter until circumstances change that situation."
In the past MSU has rotated quarterbacks. Iddins started six games last year to Kempt's five. Ash said it's not an arrangement that he prefers.
"The best situation any time is to have one quarterback who can be there and lead the team and have a capable backup who can come in when he's needed," Ash said. "That's what we hope we have."
That doesn't mean both quarterbacks won't see the field in the Bobcats' season opener this Saturday against Division II Fort Lewis, though.
"I hope very much that we can play both of them in this first game," Ash said. "That's my expectation in this game - that they'll both play."
Neither quarterback was made available to comment Tuesday.
As for Kempt, who was 4-1 as the team's starter a season ago, Ash gave him "tremendous credit" for the way he took the news.
"He's a team player," Ash said. "It was very disappointing to him, of course, but he pledged his commitment to the team. I know he'll be ready to play when his opportunity comes up."
As for McGhee, he's just plum excited. But then again, Ash said, he's that way every day.
"It was hard to tell the difference (after McGhee was told he was the starter)," Ash said. "He didn't gloat or change his demeanor at all when he went out to practice yesterday. He was as exuberant as always."
Notes
Three other surprises came Tuesday when Ash announced that three more redshirt freshmen, all of whom are Treasure State natives, will also be starting this Saturday. Frenchtown's Cody Kirk was named the starter in a hotly five-man battle at running back, Great Falls' Tanner Bleskin prevailed at an equally crowded position as one of the team's three starting wide receivers and Billings's Aleksei Grosulak beat out senior Tanner Ripley and junior college transfer Roger Trammell at strong side linebacker. ... Ash said John Laidet, a preseason all-conference selection at defensive end, will be limited in week one with an ankle injury. Caleb Schreibeis will start in his place. Fellow defensive end Brad Smith (shoulder), and corners James Andrews (shoulder) and Bryce Stacy (head) will all miss this week's game.
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