Trenton Bourguet Expected to Be Arizona State's Starting QB Against Cal

Drew Pyne started against USC, but he is injured. ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham took over play-calling duties against USC

Arizona State is going through a quarterback shuffle much like Cal, and it appears quarterback Trenton Bourguet will get his second start of the season against Cal on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley.

Bourguet is the third quarterback who has started games for Arizona State this season. Freshman Jaden Rashada started the first two games but he suffered a leg injury in the second game and that is expected to sideline him for most of the season. Bourguet started the third game, against Fresno State, but he was injured in that game – a 29-0 loss to the Bulldogs -- and was unable to play in this past weekend’s game against USC.

Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne played the entire game against USC, and the Sun Devils performed well in a 42-28 loss to the Trojans. 

The fact that head coach Kenny Dillingham took over the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin for the first time in the USC game was seen as the chief reason the Sun Devils' offense was more productive than it had been in the first three games. Dillingham will continue to call plays in the game against Cal.

Pyne was sacked eight times in that USC game, but it was assumed he would be the starter against Cal. However, Pyne sustained an injury in the loss to USC that is expected to sideline him for a few week.

Bourguet is healthy enough to play now, and Hod Rabino of Devils Digest said Tuesday that Bourguet is expected to start against Cal on Saturday.

Bourguet started five games last season and one game this year, so he has some experience.

He completed 71.1% of his passes last season for 1,490 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions, and the Sun Devils went 1-4 in his five starts. This season he is just 6-for-8 for 47 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, and ASU lost his only start.

If Bourguet should need to leave Saturday’s game for any reason, ASU’s backup quarterback would be Jacob Conover, a transfer from BYU who began the season as the Sun Devils’ No. 4 quarterback.

Cover photo of Trenton Bourguet by Mark Henle, The Republic, USA TODAY NETWORK

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