Webb Named KU Starting Quarterback For Georgia Tech Game
Sept. 8, 2010
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Webb Named KU Starting Quarterback For Georgia Tech Game
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas redshirt freshman Jordan Webb will make his first career start in just his second collegiate game as he was named the starting quarterback by head coach Turner Gill Wednesday.
Webb, replaces Kale Pick, who made his first collegiate start last week against North Dakota State. Webb, a 6-0, 210-pounder from Union, Mo., played the majority of the fourth quarter against NDSU. He hit six of 11 passes for 59 yards without an interception or a touchdown in his first college action after redshirting the 2009 season.
“Looking at things that happened in the (North Dakota State) game and overall with the things going on, he (Webb) gives us the best opportunity at this point and time and he deserves an opportunity to see what he can do as a starter,” Gill said after practice Wednesday.
“It wasn’t necessarily what Kale didn’t do because there were multiple things that happened,” Gill said. “A lot of it wasn’t just because of the quarterback. There were things going on with the offensive line, the receivers, penalties, dropped balls. We just feel good about what he has done. Both guys are pretty good quarterbacks and we just feel like right now he deserves an opportunity.”
Pick, a sophomore, hit 13 of 22 passes for 138 yards with one interception in three-plus quarters in his starting debut.
Webb redshirted last season at KU. He will be the first freshman to start at quarterback at Kansas since Kerry Meier started in the 2006 season.
“Obviously I am excited,” Webb said Wednesday. “It is what I wanted all along. It is what everybody wants. Everybody wants to be the starter. It is something I hope I can make the most of and run with.”
Gill also announced a change on the offensive line. Jeremiah Hatch, who had started a team-best 24 consecutive games heading into the 2010 season, did not play in the season opener. He will however, take over the center position against Georgia Tech as Sal Capra will move to left guard.
Kansas hosts No. 15 Georgia Tech Saturday at 11 a.m. The game will be televised on FSN.
“The guys have been practicing well the last two days,” Gill said of his team. “I do like the way our coaches have coached. I do like the way our players have tuned into what they need to get done. There is a lot more energy and a lot more positive things happening. Obviously we have to transfer that into a game. We just want to improve and we will see what happens.”
