UMass QB Spot Up In Air Heading Into Iowa
An injury to Brandon Rose has put more attention on Grant Jordan and A.J. Hairston.
At this point in the week, it seems like any of UMass’ three quarterbacks could get the nod to start against Iowa, although Grant Jordan seems most likely.
The Yale grad transfer came on when starter Brandon Rose left the Bryant game late in the first quarter with an injury. Jordan finished 13-of-22 for 205 yards with an interception. He also rushed for 28 yards on nine carries, including a 19-yard run and a five-yard touchdown run.
A.J. Hairston got one series in the third quarter and looked pretty crisp, completing 3 of 4 passes for 28 yards. He also had a nine-yard scramble that was wiped out by a holding penalty.
On Monday, UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak said Rose would be Out if the Iowa game were to be played that day, but didn’t completely rule him out for Saturday night in Iowa City.
“Brandon's x-rays are negative,” Harasymiak said. “It's a shoulder. We've got some shoulders right now, which are tricky situations. It has to do with stability in the shoulder and the strength to protect yourself.
“I'm hoping we do something with him this week. I'll know more by the end of the week.”
Harasymiak wasn’t ready to name a starter between Jordan and Hairston if Rose is unable to go.
“I think right now we're going to evaluate the week and see,” the coach said. “I feel very comfortable with both certainly. We said before the game that if Brandon went down, we'd play both. Then there's a moment in time where you get in that critical situation, we just felt like Grant had a little bit more momentum.
“I know AJ only got the one drive, but Grant seemed to extend some plays with his feet and gave us the ability, we felt comfortable with that in that game. We'll go through this week. Both will compete and we'll make a decision, but I don't have that decision right now.”
Harasymiak has said all along that he feels comfortable playing any of the three.
“Obviously Grant was the first guy in, but I feel good about both of them,” he reiterated Monday. “I think they have confidence. Yes, Grant has more experience, but A.J.'s kind of got that gunslinger mindset that he's not afraid of anything, which is why he is who he is, which we appreciate and we love. I didn't blink an eye (when Rose was out).
“Maybe that's because I went through the spring where it was those two. I went through the camp where they were both getting reps with the ones, so I know they've been in it.”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jordan is more of a dual-threat while the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Hairston is more of a true pocket passer.
Harasymiak acknowledged the differences between the two - and Rose for that matter - present a bit of a challenge as the Minutemen prepare for the Hawkeyes.
“A lot of that depends on also who's around them,” the coach said.
In addition to Rose, UMass currently has nine starters listed as Out for now, including wide receivers T.Y. Harding and Jake McConnachie as well as offensive lineman Sullivan Weidman and offensive lineman Zach Franks, who was ruled out for the season before the opener.
“I think that's something that we've got to look at,” Harasymiak continued. “Iowa obviously, on defense, for years is really, really good and they're not going to give up the explosive…If you look at the stats, they don't give up explosive plays.
“How can we put a plan together with the guys that are available to move forward? But certainly I've talked in the past, they're different, all three of them are different and whoever goes in and plays, we've got to highlight the gameplan around that. It'll be a little bit tricky probably from that standpoint, but I feel confident. I'm very confident in both of them. Ultimately, all those reps in the spring and what we had to do during camp before we made an actual decision, hopefully that pays benefits down the road.”
This week’s evaluation may not be solely based on the performances of Jordan and Hairston.
“I think ultimately it's just what gives us the best chance to win the game. It's a personnel decision, but also gameplan.”
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