Luke Weaver named San Jose State's starting quarterback
San Jose State has named Hawaii transfer Luke Weaver its starting quarterback for the Aug. 29 season opener at USC. The senior beat out redshirt freshman Robert McDaniel and true freshman Daniel Rolovich in a razor-thin camp battle, the school confirmed Wednesday after ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news.
The decision settles the Spartans’ quarterback competition a little more than a week before they travel to Los Angeles. Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann made the call, and head coach Ken Niumatalolo said he supports it “a thousand percent.” For more celebrity breaking news, follow BlasterPost’s latest coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Luke Weaver will start at quarterback when San Jose State opens at USC on Aug. 29.
- He edged redshirt freshman Robert McDaniel and true freshman Daniel Rolovich in a razor-thin camp battle.
- At Hawaii last season, Weaver went 2-0 as a starter and threw the Hawaii Bowl game-winner in relief against Cal.
- Coaches cited his processing, leadership, and calm as the intangibles that separated him.
- The Manteca native previously starred at Modesto Junior College before transferring to Hawaii, then SJSU.
Why did San Jose State choose Luke Weaver?
Niumatalolo said the competition was so close that McDaniel or Rolovich “might be able to win it” if the case were argued in court. What tipped the scale, both coaches said, was more than arm talent.
“Luke processes things really quickly. He sees the field. He’s athletic,” Niumatalolo said, noting growth in knowledge of the offense during fall camp. Stutzmann praised Weaver’s leadership, film and whiteboard processing, and “cool, collective calmness.”
Stutzmann also said Weaver throws with anticipation, gets the ball out quickly, and can scramble to help the offensive line. Those traits fit San Jose State’s Spread-and-Shred attack, which is similar to the Run-and-Shoot system Weaver ran at Hawaii, according to The Mercury News.
What has Luke Weaver done before SJSU?
Weaver appeared in five games for Hawaii last season, completing 63 of 105 passes for 628 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. As a starter he threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Sam Houston and 240 yards and two touchdowns against Portland State.
His signature moment came off the bench in the Hawaii Bowl, when he threw a 22-yard game-winning touchdown to beat Cal 35-31 after Hawaii had trailed 21-0. That throw put him on Stutzmann’s radar. Niumatalolo later said a dining-room visit sold him on Weaver’s humble presence with players, recruits, and parents.
Before Hawaii, Weaver starred at Modesto Junior College after East Union High School in Manteca, where he also played basketball, volleyball, and golf. At MJC he threw for 5,332 yards and 44 touchdowns over two starting seasons, earning All-American honors and Valley Conference MVP, per Sports Illustrated.
How tough is Weaver’s first start against USC?
There is no soft landing. Weaver’s debut comes against No. 14 USC at the Coliseum in a Week 0 matchup. He said preparations must stay the same despite the noise and chaos of a hostile environment.
Stutzmann said SJSU needs a quarterback with experience whose highs are not too high and lows not too low on that stage. He also stressed that McDaniel and Rolovich remain one play away. USC now has a named opponent after preparing for an unknown starter early in camp.