Cougars' Lopina adding to intrigue at QB

PULLMAN — A position where the starter and backup are already determined wouldn't be expected to provide much intrigue, but that's not the case at quarterback at Washington State.

Most of the intrigue is being provided by Kansas State transfer Kevin Lopina, who must sit out this year under NCAA rules.

Lopina was regarded as a national top 25 quarterback prospect in 2005 after being a two-year starter at storied De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. He has looked good in camp.

Lopina signed with the Cougars this summer and is the fifth quarterback in a stable where Alex Brink is the undisputed No. 1, Gary Rogers appears solid at No. 2 and redshirt freshmen Arkelon Hall and Cole Morgan are battling for No. 3.

Brink, the only quarterback in Cougars history to beat Washington two times in a row, looks better than ever. The fellow who looked like a cross-country runner when he arrived in the fall of 2003 is now 6 feet 3, 215 pounds and looks like a big-time college quarterback.

When coach Bill Doba was asked Tuesday to discuss how Brink had improved from last year, he said, "No comparison. He's more mature, more confident. He's taken the team and he's doing a nice job."

About 15 minutes earlier, the fourth-year junior had gone 6 for 6 in a two-minute-drill touchdown drive that culminated with a pass to All-America candidate Jason Hill.

One year ago, Brink was locked in a training-camp battle with Josh Swogger. Brink was named the starter late in camp and Swogger transferred to Montana after the season.

Lopina, who is 6-3, 229 pounds, said he is enjoying his new surroundings.

"I'm enjoying the coaches, enjoying the whole offense," he said. "Pullman's not too bad. It kind of reminds me of Manhattan [Kan.]. They are similar in a lot of ways except for the weather — no humidity here."

The intrigue is how Lopina next year will fit into the pecking order because all five quarterbacks are due to return and Doba said the Cougars will add another quarterback in next year's recruiting class.

That will make six quarterbacks and the likelihood of someone transferring appears high.

"Those are the facts of life," said quarterback coach Timm Rosenbach. "Quarterbacks are competitive by nature. They all want to play. One guy is on the field most of the time."

Rosenbach said it is too early to make predictions about how the battle below Brink will shake out.

"Guys will step up," he said. "It's not always the guy you think. ... They sort themselves out. Competitiveness and and leadership, all those things come to the forefront."

The abundance of quarterbacks is in stark contrast to 2003 and 2004 when the Cougars finished the season with a shortage at the position. Brink was redshirting and on "red alert" status as the No. 3 quarterback in 2003 behind Matt Kegel and Swogger. In 2004, Rogers was redshirting but on "red alert" behind only Brink because Swogger suffered a season-ending injury midway through the campaign.

Game time changed

The Cougars' Sept. 9 home opener against Idaho has been moved up to 12:45 p.m. The game, originally scheduled for 4 p.m., will air on FSN.

Notes

• Grady Maxell Jr., a scholarship freshman lineman from Curtis High School, has been unable to practice because of a knee injury that might require surgery.

• The Cougars will be in full gear Thursday, and the first scrimmage is Saturday.

• Here are the invited freshman walk-ons in Cougars camp: K Carlin Birrell, Skyline High School; S Jason Butler, Eastside Catholic; OL Brian Danaher, Colfax; OL-deep snapper Zack Enyeart, Skyline; WR Luke Fowler, R.A. Long High School, Longview (shoulder injury detected in physical, will undergo MRI); TE Aaron Gehring, Castle Rock; DT Ben Huntley, Olympia High School; LB Andrew Kreutz, Marysville; SS Desmond Murff, Dallas; DT Chris Prummer, Liberty High School, Renton, and DL Chris Rains, Omak.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com