UC Davis Football Preview: Quarterbacks

Aug 13, 2024, 7:41 AM

(UC Davis)

Sactown Sports

If there is one position where leadership and experience is one of the most important attributes its quarterback and for No. 18 UC Davis football their quarterback room has complete mastery of the offense as Davis’ collection of field generals are set to lead the Aggies into 2024.

“The quarterback position at UC Davis has a rich and long history of great coaches and great players,” said offensive coordinator Paul Shelton. “I think the thing that is so special about our room, and it always has been at Davis as far as quarterbacks go, is, there’s always been a high level of competitiveness.

“Our guys have a good understanding of having that high level of competitiveness and it shows every day when we meet and when we get out on the field.”

UC Davis Football Position Preview: QB

At the helm of the room is senior quarterback Miles Hastings, a three-year starter, Hastings has accumulated in his career 6,675 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns, a 65 percent completion rate and he has averaged just shy of 200 passing yards per game, sitting at 196.3 passing yards per game.

Hastings was named to the 2023 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List and he was a 2022 HERO Sports Sophomore All-American. Following the 2022 season he earned first team All-Big Sky honors and in 2021 he was named to the Big Sky All-Academic team.

“We’ve got a veteran leader in Miles,” said Shelton. “He’s been here a long time and we’re excited to have him in a relatively young room. Miles has done a lot of good things at Davis over the past few years and he has spent camp with a desire, drive and comfort level that allows him to grow while setting an example for the younger guys in the room.”

In the Aggie record book, Hastings is posed to solidify himself on several career top 10 lists. He sits just one passing touchdown outside the career passing touchdown list and his 6,675 passing yards places him sixth all-time and he is just 927 yards away from catching and passing Kevin Daft who sits just above him.

His 955 passing attempts puts him sixth all-time while his 623 passing completions ranks him fifth all-time. While the Aggie quarterback’s career 65 percent completion percentage puts him third all-time.

Along with Hastings, the Aggies have four other quarterbacks that make up the room.

Junior Grant Harper brings the most experience having seen action in five games over the past two years when Hastings needs a spell. Harper has racked up 118 passing yards and chucked a pair of touchdowns going 12-for-18 in his career.

“Grant is a guy who has battled throughout his career,” said Shelton. “He’s got all the tools and it’s good to see him back and healthy to add to our room.”

Sophomore David Rasor and freshmen Caden Pinnick and Damon Wrighster round out the room, as the three younger Aggies are poised to learn from their seniors in the room.

“I think from top to bottom the quarterback room is filled with a group of guys that are going to elevate the competitiveness within that room,” said Shelton.

Having a veteran taking the snaps is big for the Aggies as the offense looks to be an anchor for Aggie success this season. With Hastings and company raising the competitive level, UC Davis can feel confident knowing whoever is taking the snaps will lead Davis to success.

This story was originally published by UC Davis Athletics.