Redshirt junior Taylor Kelly walks out onto the field as a fan greets him before the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. ASU defeated UCLA 38-35. (Photo by Dominic Valente)The most underrated quarterback in the Pac-12 might just be residing in Tempe. UCLA's Brett Hundley, Oregon's Marcus Mariota, and even Oregon State's Sean Mannion have been getting hype and even Heisman speculation in the preseason and ASU's redshirt senior signal caller continues to fly just under the radar.
Taylor Kelly is coming off a season in which he threw for more than 3,600 yards with 28 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. The 28-12 TD/INT ratio was slightly down from his redshirt sophomore campaign of 29 touchdowns to nine interceptions, but his QBR raised from 69.2 to 74.9.
Coach Todd Graham has very high expectations for his quarterbacks — not just Kelly. He called Kelly and redshirt junior Mike Bercovici the best one-two punch at QB in the country. Graham also said Kelly is the undisputed leader of the team — along with redshirt senior left tackle Jamil Douglas — then naming Bercovici along with other top team leaders.
Although Kelly's eligibility is up after this season, the Sun Devils' future is bright at quarterback. Graham has options next year: Bercovici or talented freshmen Manny Wilkins and Coltin Gerhart. Both Wilkins and Gerhart were highly regarded coming out of high school, but Bercovici has grown in his time on campus, and the coaches may reward him for sticking around.
2014 depth chart:
1. Taylor Kelly
2. Mike Bercovici
3. Coltin Gerhart or Manny Wilkins
Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck
