FORT COLLINS — Call it a derby, a race or a competition. Any of those descriptions works to describe the battle for the starting quarterback job at Colorado State among senior Billy Farris, fourth-year junior Grant Stucker and redshirt freshman T.J. Borcky.
The bottom line is the first-year staff eventually must choose someone, and there’s no obvious successor to 2 1/2-season starter Caleb Hanie.
“I’m not sure what I would call it,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said. “Billy Farris goes first in practice, I guess. If we played a game tomorrow, Billy would probably be our quarterback. But I want to make sure we make the right decision.”
The contenders are downplaying the competition.
“Whether it’s me, Billy or both of us, we are going to win games,” Stucker said.
Quarterback controversies don’t usually develop until one player is named and by midyear the fans are chanting for his backup.
“I learned a long time ago you don’t force a decision,” said Fairchild, a former CSU quarterback himself. “You let it happen.”
Since the spring, Farris developed more leadership running 7-on-7 summer drills while Borcky has impressed the staff with a much better handle of the offense.
“T.J. impressed me in two days,” Fairchild said. “Hopefully, he will get himself in position to at some point get into a game because he’s a talented kid. He’s got a future.”
In Fairchild’s mind, Stucker has every chance to become the starter, too.
Farris and Stucker are rooming together in the dorms during preseason camp.
“That’s to show we’re good friends,” Stucker said. “We’re not at each other’s throats at all. If he makes a good throw, I’m the first one there to say, ‘Billy, great throw.’ ”
Farris said: “It’s a competitive sport. . . . There’s always pressure. There’s always competition. In my mind there should always be a QB battle.”
He said consistency, leadership and a presence in the huddle will be the key to winning the job.
Borcky, the lone southpaw, said he is getting more confident as he learns the offense.
Redshirt freshman Klay Kubiak has moved to the back burner with a groin injury.
Incoming freshman Alex Kelly will get a look when time permits.
No one knows the toll of a quarterback battle better than first-year quarterbacks coach Daren Wilkinson.
He came in for the 1995 season as a junior college transfer and dueled with sophomore Moses Moreno. They alternated starts in the first two games, then Wilkinson seemingly took over, only to lose the job when he broke a thumb.
“It is a quarterback battle. Ideally we won’t carry it on as long as it went with Moses and myself,” Wilkinson said. “Having gone through it myself, you can see the positives and the negatives of getting something established as quick as possible. We’re not at the point to determine anything.”
Wilkinson wants a starter who can control the offense and manage a game.
Regardless of position, Fairchild called it a “liquid depth chart” for now — with no plans for a final version until the week of the opener.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
Colorado State’s quarterbacks
The Rams’ quarterbacks, with hometown, CSU history and what QBs coach Darren Wilkinson has to say about them:
• Billy Farris: Sr., 6-3, 223, Baton Rouge, La. Walked on and immediately scholarshipped. Saw spot time for three seasons. 20-39-1, 239 passing yards; 18-79 rushing. “The best thing is his maturity.”
• Grant Stucker: Jr., 6-2, 205, Parker (Ponderosa High School). Only appearance is at WR in 2007 vs. UNLV. “He can do things with his athleticism that maybe Billy can’t.”
• T.J. Borcky: Fr., 6-4, 197, Orlando, Fla.. Drew raves as scout team QB in 2007. “He has a live arm and can move around the pocket.”
• Klay Kubiak: Fr., 6-0, 199, Englewood (Regis). Redshirted. “He’s a head coach’s son and knows football.”
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
