SU’s quarterback room got a lot deeper this season as Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Dan Villari joined the program via the transfer portal. Unfortunately, that group just took a hit.
Well, that’s tough. Justin Lamson put his name on the map in the Spring Game back in April, as he went 7-10 with 151 yards and two touchdowns. But, the California native will not see the field this season, regardless of how his counterparts play. This affects the other quarterbacks more than anyone else on the team. Here are the two biggest ways in which things change.
Some Pressure is off Garrett Shrader
With all the talent among signal-callers in the SU locker room, it goes without saying that bad play from Shrader will lead to him taking a seat on the bench. That’s one less guy the Mississippi State transfer has to worry about. Lamson’s spring game had some people wondering about the stability of Shrader’s job. That’s all for naught now. The only other QB on the roster that has seen action for the Orange is JaCobian Morgan, but he threw for a grand total of 3 yards a season ago. It was already Shrader’s job to lose, now with Lamson’s injury it’s even more so.
The Newbies Have a Bigger Chance to Make an Impression
As we all know, the transfer portal is oh-so prevalent in college athletics nowadays, but it takes time for transfers to learn the new system. Now, guys like Villari and Del Rio-Wilson have a golden opportunity to put themselves at the forefront when it comes to being Shrader’s backup. Lamson’s performance in the spring game had SU fans thinking he’d be near the top of the totem pole in that regard, but now it’s wide open. If Villari, Del Rio-Wilson, or another QB on the roster has a strong training camp, there’s your understudy for Shrader.
Nobody wants someone to get injured, but the other quarterbacks in the room now have an opportunity for the taking. For Shrader, that’s one less guy you have to worry about taking your spot. As for the other guys in the room, a good training camp will vault them to the top, and the top dog in that competition will be the first to play if Shrader struggles. Lamson getting hurt is no fun, but we may have a little more clarity in the outlook of the QB depth chart now.
