Rutgers might have one starting quarterback option for Saturday’s game against Iowa. They might have two.
Who knows, they might even have three options.
The Rutgers quarterback situation has been full of uncertainty this season. Noah Verdal, the starter the last two seasons, has seen him sidelined for the first three games of this season. Gavin Wimsatt, who played extensively at Boston College and started the home opener against Wagner, was hurt in the first half of the Temple game and did not return. His status is uncertain for Saturday.
That leaves Evan Simon as the only scholarship quarterback on the Rutgers roster.
As a result, Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) is preparing for all situations on Saturday when they will face Rutgers (7:00 P.M. ET, FS1).
In a press conference with reporters on Tuesday, Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz made it clear that he had no idea what was happening under center (or from the shotgun) for Rutgers.
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“I guess there’s good news, we’ve seen all three quarterbacks on film, so we’ve got that ability to at least know what to expect a little bit,” Ferentz told reporters.
“But you just never know, so we’ll just have to try to be ready and adjust as we go.”
While Verdal and Wimsatt will be game-time decisions, Simon was solid against Temple. The sophomore was 9-of-15 for 52 yards – not great numbers but he didn’t turn the ball over.
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So far this season, he is 18-26 for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Against Temple, Simon did enough to ensure that the Scarlet Knights’ perfect season would continue.
“You’re just never quite sure what you’re going to get, and it sounds like they’re not sure, either,” Ferentz said, aptly summing up the Rutgers situation.
So far this season, Rutgers has started a different quarterback every week. It remains to be seen if that streak will continue, but head coach Greg Schiano is confident in whoever is under center. Leading up to their first Big Ten matchup of the year, Rutgers is keeping things interesting not just for themselves but for Iowa too.
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