By Brett Shweky/Sports Director
The Panthers’ starting quarterback competition has been cut down by one, following redshirt junior Maurice Alexander’s decision to change his position to wide receiver.
“After praying about it, I was thinking about the team and how I could help in different ways,” said Alexander, following his announcement. “I’m at a point in my career where I want to be out there helping us win. I can help in multiple ways on special teams and playing receiver. I know with the ability I have and the speed I have, I could really impact my team at receiver.”
During his two seasons as the signal caller, the redshirt junior mainly served as the backup for former starter Alex McGough. In the 2016 season, however, Alexander started four games for the team, while McGough was sidelined due to injury.
He also took over in this past year’s Gasparilla Bowl, when McGough also went down due to an injury. He finished the bowl game by completing 16 of his 33 passes for 162 yards and two interceptions.
Former quarterback Maurice Alexander scrambles out of the pocket against the Temple University Owls on Dec. 21, 2017 at the Gasparilla Bowl. (Photo courtesy of FIU Athletics)
Alexander finishes his tenure at quarterback with 787 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and six interceptions while having a career completion percentage of 54.7. The dual-threat athlete also rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown.
The Booker T. Washington product joins a wide receiving core, that saw two of their starters from the year before graduate. With seniors Julian Williams and Thomas Owens being such crucial playmakers for the offense last season, the Panthers are in need of added depth to the receiver position.
“Maurice is a very good athlete. Without question, he can help our team with this position change in several ways,” said head coach Butch Davis. “I love his unselfish attitude that he wants to play and contribute to the team.”
With the departure of Maurice Alexander from the quarterback room, the competition for the starting job is down to redshirt junior Christian Alexander, redshirt freshman Kaylan Wiggins, true freshman Caleb Lynum, and graduate transfer James Morgan.
Morgan is believed to be the favorite for the starting job, as the graduate transfer will have the most experience out of the bunch when he joins the team in fall. As a member of the Bowling Green football team, he played in 19 games with 13 of them being starts.
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