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Photo by Jim Black
Baylor Football
Bears will turn to Zach Smith at QB, Matt Rhule announces
After Baylor's winless start through two games against Liberty and UTSA, Matt Rhule has decided to go back to the quarterback who brought Baylor their last victory in December of 2016 against Boise State in the Cactus Bowl.
That is 6-foot-3, 225-pound sophomore quarterback Zach Smith.
“I’ll start Zach this week," Rhule announced on the Big 12 media call on Monday morning.
Graduate transfer Anu Solomon started Baylor's first two games of the season, throwing for 399 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions, but only completed 10-of-26 passes for 121 yards against UTSA on Saturday evening.
The losses to non-Power 5 programs in which the Bears were favored was the obvious tipping point to make a change to Smith, but Rhule stated there were multiple factors which led the staff to the decision.
"Just a lot of different factors, Rhule said. "Anu got banged up a little bit in the game and I think Zach went out there and he was ready to go. So, we’ll turn to Zach this week.
"It was a tough, tough, tight race in camp. I think people maybe thought I was messing around when I went right down to the last day. After two games, in terms of where the offensive line is and some of the hits Anu has taken, and Zach, you know, I think he’s more ready to play. We’ll start Zach this week.”
Rhule praised Smith for his attitude throughout the spring and summer and the start of the season.
“I think the biggest thing I like about Zach is the fact that he had to sit down and watch Anu play and he had a tremendous attitude about it," Rhule said. "He went out there for one play in each of the last two games and was ready to go. He’s a competitor, you know. The last win these kids have had he led them to. He’s healthy now. I think that ankles 100 percent. He’s moving around well. We’re going to turn to him and let him go do his thing.”
As a true freshman in 2016, Smith completed 116-of-196 passes for 1,526 yards and 13 touchdowns and started Baylor's final four games of the 2016 season after an injury to Seth Russell. Against Boise State, Smith completed 28-of-39 passes for 375 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
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