Menos Hiras: Kendall is the Mountaineers’ Starting Quarterback

Ever since Neal Brown ascended to being the Mountaineers’ coach, Menos Hiras, as well as myriads of the team’s fans, have been asking almost the same questions. Among the most pressing of these had to do with who’s playing as the team’s starting quarterback this season. Well, Coach Brown has just given his answer and it’s one that’s been eight months in the making.

Brown named Austin Kendall, the 6-foot-1 transfer from Oklahoma, as the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback this season. He made the announcement during the end of preseason camp.

“Austin Kendall won our starting quarterback job,” he said. “We tracked everything from spring practice through fall camp – decision making, completion percentage, number of turnovers, scoring drives. It was clear after Friday night’s scrimmage that he earned it.”

Austin Kendall joined the team just this January, but he’s already opening against James Madison Dukes. He competed against his teammates Jack Allison, currently the No. 2 quarterback, and Trey Lowe.

Coach Brown was quick to clarify that the announcement does not, in any way, mean he views the other competitors any less.

“I believe in Jack Allison. He’s got skills that can be in our league and be productive,” he declared. He also expressed admiration for Trey Lowe’s progress so far.

When asked which qualities he likes about Austin Kendall, the coach pointed to the athlete’s demeanor, calling him “calm and collected.” Coach Brown remarked how one could train Kendall hard and the athlete would simply come out of it in a manner that impresses everyone.

Austin Kendall used to back up both Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, both of whom eventually got the much-coveted Heisman Trophy. Menos Hiras says he was one of the leading names set to play as starter for the Oklahoma Sooners until Jalen Hurts transferred from Alabama and enrolled just this winter.