Less than two years ago, quarterback Ryan Katz had become the star of the future for Oregon State.
He had started every game as a sophomore in 2010, including a 29-27 win at then-No. 9 Arizona. He completed 30 of 42 passes in that game for 393 yards and two touchdowns.
“He had some big-time games,” Oregon State head coach Mike Riley said.
But then, suddenly, everything unraveled. Katz broke the scaphoid bone in his right throwing wrist in the final game of 2010, and he was sidelined during spring practice in 2011. Then he was benched after starting the first two games of 2011.
Freshman Sean Mannion took over for the rest of the season.
“It was bitterly disappointing for him, but he handled it best he could until he made a decision he was going to leave,” Riley said of Katz.
Katz said he’d rather not discuss it anymore. Instead, he’d rather focus on his new team and new job — at San Diego State.
A native of Santa Monica, Calif., he transferred to SDSU in January with one year of eligibility remaining — one last chance to reinvent a college career that once looked promising, but soon turned sour.
“It seemed like a good fit and an opportunity for me to come in and play right away,” Katz said of his reason for picking SDSU.
This will be the first season since 2007 that Ryan Lindley is not SDSU’s regular starting quarterback. His departure created a void that looked like it might be filled by an untested backup until Katz entered the picture.
Credit Andy Ludwig with the acquisition.
Ludwig, SDSU’s offensive coordinator, previously recruited Katz when Ludwig was the offensive coordinator at Utah.
Since his arrival, Katz has had to beat out other challengers, a mission he’ll continue in August. But barring any surprises, this will be a much different situation than 2011, when he was beat out by Mannion at OSU.
In that case, Mannion had a big advantage. While Katz was forced to sit out spring practice in 2011 because of injury, Mannion was getting better and better. He got so good that Riley decided to replace Katz with Mannion two games into the 2011 season.
“Injuries, whether you like it or not, they can affect things, for sure,” Riley said. “It was a hard deal.”
Now healthy, Katz just needs to master
SDSU’s offense. After that, he’ll return to
familiar territory. SDSU opens the season Sept. 1
in Seattle against Pac-12 foe Washington.