The quarterback comp is over

I think he is still around.

Semonza only got a couple plays in spring game but early words and reports are he has looked really good and has that 3rd Qb emergency spot locked down. Blazek still around. They might let Blazek travel over Semonza though since he is older doubtbtgey take 4qbs. I fully expect no matter what happens this year there will be another Battle next year

Martin touches it today

Basically said what I mentioned in previous post.

Dont confuse people it says Hatcher starting qb week one

It does. But, I'm not convinced any of this talk about conspiracy and lying isn't premature.

Here's the quoted material that hedges a bit, as I said above. Makes me think Neu could be trying to keep his options open for using Kelly:


MUNCIE, Ind. — The 2023 college football season is fast approaching, and Mid-American Conference teams on Thursday flocked to Fox Theatre in Detroit for Media Day.

Ball State was represented by head coach Mike Neu, senior linebacker Clayton Coll and redshirt sophomore tight end Brady Hunt. The trio shed light on the Cardinals' starting quarterback battle...

While more concrete evaluations will be made once practices begin on Aug. 1, here are the major takeaways from BSU's Media Day showing:
Layne Hatcher named starting QB for Week 1

The QB competition between graduate transfer Layne Hatcher and redshirt sophomore Kiael Kelly has been the talk of the offseason.

....

Both of Paddock's potential replacements garner excitement. Hatcher, a college veteran who's thrown for over 10,000 career yards during stops at Arkansas State and Texas State, brings a similar pocket-passer playstyle to Paddock but with a more proven track record.

Kelly, who played in BSU's final game of 2022 and rushed for 83 yards and threw for 23, is a dual-threat QB who flashed intriguing potential in the Spring Game.

With such contrasting profiles and potential, it made sense for Neu and his staff to keep the starting spot available. Neu, Coll and Hunt all said in Thursday morning interviews with The Star Press that the competition remained open, despite each of them first referencing and going into more detail on Hatcher before mentioning Kelly when asked about the situation.

Neu did, however, initially indicate that Hatcher was currently ahead.

"We'll continue to battle that competition in training camp," Neu said. "I would say heading into to the Kentucky game right now before camp starts, Layne would have the edge."

But when Neu was later interviewed on television, he pivoted and officially declared the starting quarterback for BSU's Week 1 game at Kentucky on Sept. 2.

"(Hacther) will go into our game against Kentucky as the starter. We'll continue the competition here in camp, but it's my job, it's our job, to get both quarterbacks on the field together," Neu said Thursday afternoon. "Perhaps we'll motion Kiael out of the backfield. Maybe we'll have a little shift package involved. But Kiael's too dynamic, so there'll be a package for him as well because he is a really good football player and has got big-play ability."