It is common knowledge that an offense is only as good as its quarterback. Sure, quarterbacks need weapons to productively lead an offense, but offenses in general cannot operate without a skilled passer at the helm.
The Idaho offense has been one of the most consistent groups in the Big Sky this season, but the situation that the quarterback room has endured is quite unique.
The Vandals started the season led by sophomore Jack Layne, the only non-freshman in an inexperienced quarterback room. The Oregon native started the season opener against the Oregon Ducks and threw for 168 yards and a score before exiting the game with a broken collarbone.
With the only guy who had any collegiate experience going down for the foreseeable future, the Vandals turned to the next man up, redshirt freshman Jack Wagner.
Starting as a quarterback at the Division-1 level has a significant learning curve, and the future of the Idaho season seemingly hung in the balance before the opener even concluded. It was a simple concept: Wagner needed to get comfortable in the starting role quickly for this team to stay competitive in a talented Big Sky Conference.
Through seven starts, Wagner exceeded these expectations, as the team went 6-1 in these games, with the lone blemish being a two-point loss on the road against a gritty UC Davis team currently standing in second place in the conference. Since the team began FCS play, Wagner has thrown for 1288 yards, 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions in six starts.
“It was huge for me because now I know I can win games at this level,” Wagner said. “I still think I have a lot to show, and I haven’t reached my best football yet. I don’t think our offense has truly shown what it’s capable of.”
Though it was initially a scare for Vandal fans, Layne’s injury allowed the freshmen to gain valuable experience that they likely would not have gotten otherwise. This whole journey has solidified the offense’s potential in the future, as three different quarterbacks have established their presence.
“We have three quarterbacks we can win with and that provides a great future to Vandal football,” Head Coach Jason Eck said. “The QB touches the ball every play; They are critical to the team’s success. You need to have good depth in that room if you want to be a playoff team.”
Though Layne’s sophomore season was temporarily put on hold, he took on a leadership role helping the younger guys get their feet under them.
“After breaking my collarbone against Oregon, my role for the team changed,” Layne said. “While I was still just as valuable to the team as healthy guys, my value showed through how I helped the other quarterbacks and offense as a whole. It was still my job to be a leader for the guys.”
Regarding his injury, Layne says what helped him the most during recovery was leaning on his faith. He also feels the injury positively changed his perspective.
“The biggest things I learned from this injury are patience and gratitude,” Layne said. “Every time I step onto the field, I am so much more grateful than before. You gain a new appreciation for the game when you deal with a long-term injury.”
Nick Josifek also made the most of his opportunities on the field. He and Wagner are responsible for helping Idaho cruise to the secure position that they find themselves in with just one game to go in the regular season.
“We do not adjust our goals with injuries,” Eck said. “We have confidence in the next man stepping up. Jack Wagner and Nick Josifek both did an excellent job when they were in there.”
Layne also was not shy to praise his teammates, adding, “I thought the guys were awesome when I was out. Our team has faced adversity seemingly every week this year and we just keep responding. It’s cool to see.”
Having four rushers with over 325 yards on the ground apiece does not hurt either. The quartet of Vandal running backs have combined for 1606 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns with an average of over 5.7 yards per carry.
It is very impressive that through all the personnel changes, Idaho still finds itself in a position to host a home playoff game. Additionally, Eck says the difficult schedule the team has endured has prepared them well for the playoffs. The three teams the Vandals lost to have a combined record of 31-2 this season.
Since recovering from his injury, Layne has started two games, throwing for 518 yards and five touchdowns.
“I would say the game slowed down a lot from freshman to sophomore year,” Layne said. “As you play more games, you see different looks and you start to see things better. Experience is the best teacher.”
Though injuries in football often lead to teams struggling to develop an identity, Eck praised his offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner’s ability to form an efficient game plan regardless of who is commanding the huddle.
“We are always looking for ways to improve the offense and find the best way for us to move the ball, score points, and win games,” Eck said. “We are constantly evaluating what gives us the best chance to do that…We always adjust our game plan to play to the QB’s strengths.”
Wagner says a lot was going on in his head when Layne went down because nobody knew the extent of his injury, but he came into the game with the mindset that he always needs to be ready to come off the bench and help his team. “Coaches always said ‘You are one play away from being the starter, so you have to prepare like it.’ So, my mindset was just staying ready and preparing to the best of my ability.”
Transitioning into the starting role, what boosted Wagner’s confidence was the belief that his teammates and coaches had in him every step of the journey. He leaned on his teammates, and they have had nothing but great things to say about the job he has done. Layne mentioned how proud he is of Wagner and Josifek because he knows how hard they work.
Wagner’s go-to passing target, sophomore wideout Jordan Dwyer, said, “I think Jack Wagner has done a great job stepping into the fire as a freshman, winning games and preventing turnovers. I have a ton of respect for Jack Wagner; he’s excellent and I love playing with him.”
This unwavering belief that Idaho has in itself and its players has become somewhat of a mantra for this team.
“’We believe’ is the big thing for us,” Wagner said. “A lot of people doubted us, but to us, that was outside noise. We knew what we were capable of and that we had a chance. All we did was believe in ourselves and our play. We know what it takes and what we need to do. Now we just need to do it.”
Wagner says that this team has a special bond that makes it an ideal environment.
“I feel like we have a true brotherhood,” Wagner said. “If we are successful right now, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team.”
Liam Bradford can be reached at [email protected]