Diaco Wants QB Leader to Emerge This Spring

With spring practice upon us, the hope is that one of the three young QBs will differentiate themselves.

Coach Bob Diaco, entering his second year as the Huskies coach, spoke with the media Wednesday. Not surprisingly, UConn's quarterback situation came up. The candidates include junior Tim Boyle, transfer Bryant Shirreffs or true freshman Tyler Davis.

It's not ideal, but that's been a recurring them since the Huskies played in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2010 season. But with spring practice upon us, the hope is that the players will differentiate themselves.

“I am not backing away from it, I would like to see a leader emerge from those three, knock on wood, everyone for practice one is expected to be full speed,” Diaco said, via SNY.com. “I am very hopeful that not only a leader emerge, and a pecking order 1-2-3. ...

As for the differences between Boyle and Shirreffs, the two likely candidates for the starting job, Diaco offered this: "Physically, they are different, they move different. Bryant is a quicker and faster player. He’s overall core strength and body strength. He’s a stronger overall player body-wise than the other two. He’s a faster player in term of leg and running speed…

“Tim has a stronger arm in terms of velocity, rotation, down the field length. There’s a strength right there in Tim’s corner. Tim’s taller from a vision standpoint. I am excited to see what decisions they both make moving forward,” Diaco told SNY.com.

But that doesn't mean the freshman Davis is out of the picture. Too many questions remain unanswered to rule him out in March.

“He’s going to have to (be the No. 3 quarterback)," Diaco conceded. "We don’t have a choice. Not enough depth at position yet. The attrition, has been well documented and has been profound. There’s just not enough depth…all hands on deck. I think (Davis) has got to go, compete, and get equal reps until someone separates.”

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