This is the first in a series of articles previewing the 2019 Missouri S&T football season.  The daily stories will feature one position, or a set of positions, each weekday through August 1.  The stories will be available on www.minerathletics.com at 11 a.m. each day, with the exception of July 26 when it will be available following the release of the GLVC pre-season poll.

ROLLA, Mo. – In a way, Missouri S&T is heading into the 2019 season in some waters that have been unchartered in recent years at the quarterback position.

The 2013 campaign was the last in which S&T has gone into the start of a season with a signalcaller that has not made a start at the collegiate level.  But with the departure of record-setting quarterback Tyler Swart (Dickinson, TX/Dickinson) after leading the Miners to 10 wins and a victory in the Mineral Water Bowl, S&T enters the season with depth at the position – but none of it coming in starting role.

"This is going to be a great camp to see who emerges at the quarterback position," said first-year Miner head coach Todd Drury.  "That is a position that we feel is very talented. All of these guys bring different tools to the table, but the main thing we are looking for is who can command and lead the offense. We have arm talent, but we have to see who can make the right decisions under pressure."

The player with the most experience in the group is junior Brennan Simms (Punta Gorda, FL/Charlotte), who appeared in six games last fall and in 11 in his first two seasons on the field at S&T.  Simms completed 16-of-25 passes for 105 yards a year ago and did get some extended playing time in a couple of games midway through the season when Swart was dealing with an injury issue.

Luke Hertzler (St. Louis, MO/Parkway North) also played in four contests last season – completing all four of his throws during that time – and will compete for the starting role along with Simms and redshirt freshmen Staton King (Bixby, OK/Bixby) and McKennan Starkey (Troy, MO/Troy Buchanan).

"Brennan and Luke both have played in games for us and are veterans in the system," Drury said.  "We are excited about our younger guys as well, as they had tremendous springs and really grew as players and leaders."

The Miners also have a pair of incoming freshmen at the position in Seth Fortner (Cedar Hill, MO/Northwest) and Mitch Miller (Frisco, TX/Liberty).

Coming Tuesday: Running Backs