Dave Aranda 'excited' to watch Baylor quarterback battle play out

Baylor is one of the many high-level programs going through a quarterback competition early in fall camps. Head coach Dave Aranda has a critical season ahead of him and getting this decision right is as critical as anything. Two guys are fighting for the spot, with DeQuan Finn and Sawyer Robertson battling each other.

Aranda gave his thoughts on the quarterback battle after Day One of practice, stating he was not any closer to naming a starter. However, there were positives to take away from both guys. Baylor runs a system for every session, with a “put-up” being a good remark to receive.

Finn was able to receive one from coaches and his fellow players while Aranda provided words of encouragement for Robertson.

“Guys were able to put up DQ,” Aranda said on Friday. “So, that was really good. I think good first day for him. Sawyer is battling and doing his stuff. So, I’m excited to see.”

Both Robertson and Finn began their college careers elsewhere, at Mississippi State and Toldeo, respectively. The latter of the duo entered the program this past offseason after being a prize player in the NCAA transfer portal. Finn had some interest from Big Ten programs but ultimately landed in Waco.

Last season with Toledo, Finn threw for 2,657 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He added 563 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, which led to him being named first-team All-MAC for his performances. A dynamic player for Baylor to potentially work with, competition pending.

Robertson spent the 2023 season with Baylor and even received some playing time. Results were not the best, though — throwing for 864 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions on 117 pass attempts. Baylor went 1-5 in games Robertson played a significant role too.

It’s a new year for Robertson though and early returns from his head coach are positive. The QB competition is expected to take the most of fall practice and Aranda is excited to see where things go. Having two options at quarterback is never a bad thing, especially in today’s college football world.

Baylor will open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Tarleton State, being a nice warmup for the Bears. But from there, 10 power conference (plus triple-option team Air Force) opponents are on the schedule. Tough sledding ahead for Aranda but if the quarterback play can elevate, Baylor should be able to stack up a few more wins.