By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
HAYS – For the first time in several seasons, Fort Hays State enters preseason camp with an open competition at quarterback.
The Tigers are looking for a new starter after junior Caleb Heavner transferred to Division I Miami (Ohio) in January, leaving three players competing for the starting job.
Sophomore Mason McMinn is the only quarterback on the roster with MIAA game experience. McMinn appeared in one game last season at Northwest Missouri State, completing one pass for seven yards.
Kody Guy also returns after redshirting his freshman season, while Major Cantrell brings Division I experience to the competition. Cantrell spent two seasons at Iowa State and played in three games last season, rushing for 25 yards. The sophomore joined the Tigers in the spring and has quickly emerged as a leader in the quarterback room.
“Major coming in, he’s played high-level football,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Ross said. “He’s kind of taken the leadership role in the room, and Kody and Mason are continuing to come along and compete for the job.”
Guy has continued to make progress as he begins his second season.
“He’s starting to get more comfortable, and then we can start to throw more things at him,” Ross said.
The Tigers also have true freshman Kaden Stefek, a Hutto, Texas, native, providing additional depth at the position.
Whoever wins the competition will have plenty of talent around him. Fort Hays State returns a deep group of running backs and has multiple options at tight end and wide receiver, giving the Tigers plenty of weapons to work with offensively.
“We’ve got playmakers everywhere,” Ross said. “I love our skills across the board. I’m just excited to be able to use them and put them in the best situation possible.”