Petrino Names Shelley Starting QB for Opener Against Cowboys

STILLWATER – It wasn’t a bomb shell; in fact it was announced rather matter of fact by Missouri State University head coach Bobby Petrino that former Utah and, most recent, Utah State quarterback Jason Shelley will be the starting quarterback for the Bears on Saturday in the opener at Oklahoma State.

Missouri State and the Cowboys will kick off just after 6 p.m. inside Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

"He had a great camp," Petrino said. "His consistency, his quick release and his ability to understand just a little more and his experience showed up throughout practices. He also showed the ability to adjust to the defense and get the ball out of his hand."

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Petrino added that he had liked the play in camp from returning quarterbacks Jaden Johnson, who threw for 1,028-yards in eight games last season and Jerry Van Dyne, who threw for 109-yards playing parts of four games. Missouri State played a split schedule where they went 0-3 in the fall losing to Oklahoma 48-0 and a pair of close games with Central Arkansas before going 5-2 in the spring and tying for the Missouri Valley Conference Championship and making it to the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Utah State Athletics

Jason Shelley at Utah State

Shelley came from Utah State where he was dismissed for violation of team rules by then interim head coach Frank Maile. The 5-11, 197-pound junior is out of Frisco (Lone Star), Texas, which ironically is the high school of current Oklahoma State 2022 quarterback commitment Garret Rangel. Shelley played at Utah State with current Oklahoma State transfer running back Jaylen Warren and in 2020 he started four games for Utah State completing 51.5 percent of his pass attempts for 420 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 68 yards on 33 carries. 

He was dismissed in the middle of the season by Maile and the staff never commented any further on the situation. Prior to Utah State, he was at Utah. As a freshman for the Utes, he was 3-2 as a starter in the 2018 season completing almost 60 percent of his passes for 1,162-yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions.  In his first start in college against Oregon Shelley completed 18-of-31 passing for 262-yards with two touchdowns.

The well-traveled Shelley has made himself at home in Springfield and was getting most of the number one reps in practice as reported by media that attended open scrimmages.

"Jason's done a really good job at moving in the pocket and having good pocket presence," offensive lineman Landon Bebee said. "As an offensive lineman, that makes you feel more comfortable that he's going to step up and make that throw and step up and make that play. We're really excited about that."