Arkansas Football: Ty Storey could have upper hand on starting quarterback job

The solid performance that rising junior quarterback Ty Storey put on for Arkansas football in the spring game last weekend could give him a leg up.

Arkansas football had one of the more intriguing spring games on tap for the early portion of the entire slate across the country, and in the SEC. First-year head coach Chad Morris has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to turnaround the most under-performing program in the SEC West from 2017.

As the most experienced quarterback on the roster entering the 2018 regular season, rising junior Ty Storey could have the upper hand on the starting job for Week 1. Morris gave Storey the first team reps during the spring game for Arkansas, on April 7.

It may be that Storey fits the scheme for Morris’ new offense better than some other candidates for the starting job. Rising sophomore Cole Kelley was the presumed favorite to be the Week 1 starter for the Razorbacks. However, Kelley got the second team snaps during the spring game.

Kelley did get some proven experience with the Hogs last year, and that should earn him some points in the quarterback competition in Fayetteville. Storey has only attempted four passes in his career with Arkansas. Meanwhile, Kelley started a few games in 2017 in place of the injured Austin Allen.

In nine games played last season, Kelley managed slightly over 1,000 passing yards and eight touchdowns, with four interceptions. Kelley also added two more scores on the ground. His experience and stat line from last year does speak for itself.

Yet, all that work for Kelley last season came under former head coach Bret Bielema, who ran a very different offensive scheme than what Morris is planning. Morris wants to bring the Arkansas offense into the modern era, and spread things out more. Storey’s arm, and longer tenure with the program than Kelley, could give him the edge since this scheme could maximize his ability.

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Moreover, the solid pocket presence that Storey showed in the spring game would also allow more running room to open up for guys like Devwah Whaley and Chase Hayden. That is also a valuable piece of information when Morris ultimately makes his decision for Arkansas’ Week 1 matchup against the Eastern Illinois Panthers, on Sept. 1.