Jimbo Fisher says Texas A&M's quarterback spot is an 'open competition'

The quarterback competition was a bit of a mess at Texas A&M last season. Between Haynes King, Max Johnson, and Conner Weigman, the Aggies may have come to a decision ahead of the season but nothing got set in stone during it thanks to injuries or poor play. However, things aren’t going to be any different this time around as Jimbo Fisher is still planning for there to be a QB battle down in College Station.

Fisher said the quarterback job isn’t automatically Weigman’s during his press conference on Monday. When it comes to QB, it’s going to be treated like every other position on the team. That puts the ball in Weigman’s hands to prove the job is his if he wants it to be – just like everybody else.

“Every position is an open competition. That’s what spring is about,” Fisher said. “Nobody has anything. I don’t care what position you are. You’ve got to prove yourself each and every day.”

“Each and every day, you’ve got to go out there. And the guys who play with the most consistency are the guys that’ll play,” said Fisher. “I don’t care if it’s quarterback, running back, OL, DL, safety, punter, kicker, snapper. All the way across the board. It’s about one thing – competition. What is your ability to compete? And then your productivity.”

Weigman appears to be in the pole position this spring when it comes to being A&M’s QB1 next season. He got his first chance in late October last season and finished off playing in four of the last five games. In his appearances, the Aggies went 2-3 and he threw for 896 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions on a 55.3% completion rate.

However, Weigman isn’t alone in that quarterback room. Johnson is back to compete with him again after transferring in from LSU ahead of last season. In his four games before breaking a bone in his hand, he threw for 517 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks on 60.6% completion. Junior Blake Bost, sophomore Jackson Oksnee, and freshman Dallas Novicke are also going to get their shots at taking the spot as well.

This season’s quarterback spot likely won’t get as complicated as last season’s did. Still, it’s not definitive that it’s Weigman. It’s also not certain that it’s anybody else either at the moment. For now, it’s a team-wide battle in Fisher’s eyes as everyone gets their chance to show what they’re worth.