Arizona State Juggles Quarterbacks

Rusty or not, out of shape or not, Jeff Krohn will start at quarterback this week for Arizona State against Washington State.

“He may not be able to go four quarters,” Coach Bruce Snyder said in Tempe, Ariz. “But I think he’ll be better next Saturday than he was this Saturday.”

Krohn survived an unpromising beginning to lead Arizona State (4-2, 1-2 Pac-10) to a 3-0 start. Then he developed mononucleosis, and senior Ryan Kealy got the nod to start what turned out to be a loss to UCLA.

But Kealy was sidelined by a knee injury, and Griffin Goodman moved up the chart. Goodman, making his second college start, produced a 394-yard performance in a victory over Cal on Oct. 7.

That earned him another start on Saturday, but Goodman was three for 13 for 32 yards against Washington before giving way to the still-ailing Krohn.

Though Krohn threw two interceptions in his 12-for-33, 170-yard performance in the loss to the Huskies, Snyder likes his chances with him.

“Jeff gives us the best chance,” Snyder said. “In that Cal game, Griff had a higher percentage on his deep passes than on the intermediate routes. But you’d think over the course of a season that in the more controlled passing attack you’d get your higher percentage of completions.

“I want a higher percentage, because it gets you more first downs and keeps your defense off the field.”

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Freshman Casey Clausen will be Tennessee’s starting quarterback against Alabama on Saturday, Coach Phillip Fulmer said in Knoxville, Tenn.

It is the third quarterback change this season for the struggling Volunteers (2-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference).

“We feel like Casey gives us our best chance throwing the football and doing the things we need a quarterback to do,” Fulmer said.

Redshirt freshman A.J. Suggs started the last four games after sophomore Joey Mathews started the season opener.

“We need someone to take charge. Nobody has really just taken command of the job. Hopefully, it will be Casey,” Fulmer said.

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Facing No. 2 Virginia Tech and No. 4 Miami over the next four weeks, Pittsburgh Coach Walt Harris decided to make senior John Turman his starting quarterback after junior David Priestley had struggled in his comeback from shoulder surgery. “It’s not just for this game,” Harris said. “But I still reserve the right to make a change if I think we need a relief pitcher. But I think John Turman has separated himself.”

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Already a huge underdog, Virginia might be without starting quarterback Dan Ellis (strained hamstring) at No. 6 Florida State on Saturday, possibly leaving the job to redshirt freshmen Bryson Spinner or Matt Schaub.

“It’s a tough team to be going against with young quarterbacks,” Virginia Coach George Welsh said of his two backups, who gained their first significant playing time after Ellis was injured against Maryland.

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Mounting injuries to Colorado’s starters could force Coach Gary Barnett to use the bench even more.

Backup free safety Medford Moorer (torn knee ligaments) is out for the season, and as many as five others, including tailback Cortlen Johnson (shoulder contusion and sprained toe), are questionable at best.

If Johnson or Marcus Houston (hip flexor) cannot play Saturday against Kansas, Colorado would be left with tailbacks who have gained a total of 22 yards in 11 carries this season.

Starting linebacker Jashon Sykes (sprained shoulder) and offensive tackle Victor Rogers (sprained knee) are listed as questionable.