PAC-10 Confidential: Quarterbacks battle for starters' jobs

ANTHONY GIMINO
Tucson Citizen
Almost everyone in the Pac-10 has decided on a starting quarterback, kind of.
And Washington, not until yesterday.
The "Conference of Quarterbacks" is in a bit of a transition as just four schools entered camp sold on the No. 1 QB - Arizona with Richard Kovalcheck, ASU with Sam Keller, Oregon with Kellen Clemens and USC with that Matt Leinart kid who won the Heisman. Here's how things shook out in camp, with a few QB depth charts written only in pencil:
Cal: In something of a surprise, redshirt freshman Nate Longshore beat out touted junior college transfer Joseph Ayoob. Both are expected to play in the opener against Sacramento State, with Ayoob considered the long-range bet to claim the job.
Oregon State: UCLA transfer Matt Moore, a junior, held off sophomore Ryan Gunderson and takes over for Derek Anderson, who threw 79 career touchdown passes.
Stanford: New coach Walt Harris picked junior Trent Edwards over sophomore T.C. Ostrander, who filled in as the starter for the final two games of last season when Edwards was injured. The competition is still close, though.
UCLA: Drew Olson, recovering nicely from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in last season's Las Vegas Bowl, has kept big-shot freshman Ben Olson at bay. Olson might not be able to back up in the opener because of a hand injury. When he's healthy, will the competition continue?
Washington: Tyrone Willingham turned to athletic Isaiah Stanback over pocket passer Johnny DuRocher, a transfer from Oregon, mainly because DuRocher will miss the first three games for an NCAA transfer violation.
Washington State: Alex Brink doesn't have the size or the arm of Josh Swogger, but Brink won the job because he was more consistent and accurate in camp while Swogger tried to come back from an injury. Swogger could see playing time, coach Bill Doba said.
Ready for takeoff
With Oregon starting running back Terrence Whitehead nursing injuries during camp, and coach Mike Bellotti wanting to use a deep rotation during a sweltering game in Houston tomorrow night, it could be quite a debut for freshman Jonathan Stewart.
Stewart, the state of Washington's career leading high school rusher, has also been slowed by injuries this month but appears to be getting stronger at the right time.
"Jonathan is the real deal," Bellotti said. "A couple of times, he has made some runs that has brought the entire team to its feet. I expect him to contribute immensely."
Worth it?
Washington State has the easiest nonconference schedule in the league this season - Idaho, Nevada and Grambling - but that won't be the case next season.
On ESPN's suggestion, and Doba's thumbs up, the Cougars will open the 2006 season at Auburn. Between the payout from Auburn and the cable network, WSU will take home a check for about $1.1 million.