SEATTLE – If Casey Paus is bitter, he’s smart enough not to show it.
Confident after spring drill that he showed enough to merit the starting quarterback position, the junior veteran found himself again, at the first day of fall camp, in a three-way competition.
Paus, the only quarterback on the team with any game experience, still is vying with sophomore Isaiah Stanback and redshirt freshman Carl Bonnell in a spirited fight for the starting QB.
Coach Keith Gilbertson said he hopes one of the three will stand out soon, but if not, “we’ll have to come to a decision.”
Paus has the advantage in experience, completing 10 of 23 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Most of those numbers he rolled up in the second half of a 42-10 victory against Oregon.
But if that plus a solid spring put it in Paus’ mind that he should be The Guy, he’s not letting on.
“Any competitor in any position, whether it’s a lineman or quarterback, thinks it’s their position to lose,” Paus said. “You have to have that mentality in a Division I program like this. It’s a competition amongst the team. I’m excited to start camp and get rolling.”
The early days of fall camp will be an extension of the spring, offensive coordinator John Pettas said. Each will get the same number of reps, each will be given the same chance to win the spot and each will be tested equally.
The Huskies open the season Sept. 5 at home against Fresno State.
Pettas said all three played exceedingly well in the last week of spring drills. If no one separated himself from the rest, it was because all three were very good.
Pettas said he hopes for the same in the coming weeks.
“I told them, ‘I want you to make it as hard as you can on me,’ ” Pettas said. “In other words, ‘Let’s not have one of you fall back and give it to the other guys.’ I want them to play hard and make it a tough decision.”
Paus is the prototype dropback passer, although he says he worked on his mobility during the summer with solid results. Stanback is the best athlete, a breakaway runner with power. Bonnell has the best mix of both skills and made a great improvement during the spring to compete for the job.
The probability is that, at some point in the season, at least two will play. Gilbertson is on record as being a proponent of such an arrangement, having done so when he was the head coach at Cal.
But while spring was a time for each to learn the offense, now is the time to apply it.
“(The coaches) are being upfront with us, saying it’s up in the air,” Stanback said. “They haven’t chosen anybody. None of us stepped up in spring ball. It’s there for us.”
Bonnell said his work in the weight room and running during the summer helped him.
“I feel like I’m a lot faster,” Bonnell said. “I can run forever now.”
Kirton hurt: Tailback Johnie Kirton, a standout at Jackson High School, has been slowed most of the summer, with a staph infection in his lower left leg. Gilbertson said Kirton was able to do little in terms of conditioning during the summer after the injury, which he sustained during the Washington Prep All-Star game in Everett.
Kirton took part in all drills Thursday.
Two freshmen out: Offensive lineman Casey Bulyca and defensive tackle Jasper Henry are missing practices while the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse studies their high school transcripts.
Bulyca, from Woodinville High School, attended Thursday’s practice in street clothes. Henry stayed home in Los Angeles.
No word on when the Clearinghouse would make a decision.
The Huskies already have taken several hits in their last recruiting class. Quarterback Matt Tuiasosopo decided to sign a contract with the Seattle Mariners and is playing for the Everett Aquasox.
Keauntea Bankhead, a highly regarded safety from Ballard High School, did not academically qualify, but may enroll in January.
“He will be here,” Gilbertson said Thursday.
Junior college defensive end Rashaad Goodrum also didn’t academically qualify and instead enrolled at USC. Sophomore receiver Jordan Slye, who started three games last year, needs to finish summer academic work. Gilbertson said Slye should be ready to practice Aug. 20.
JC player commits: James Paulk, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive tackle from College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., has verbally committed to the UW.
Paulk is expected to sign a letter of intent in February and will have three years to play three seasons at Washington. He joins tight end Adam Grant of Puyallup and cornerback Keno Walker-White of San Diego.
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