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Osweiler Steps Into National Spotlight

By Beacon Staff
Arizona State Quarterback Brock Osweiler. Courtesy ASU

From SportsCenter highlights to articles in USA Today, the country is becoming more and more familiar with Brock Osweiler.

The Kalispell quarterback has Arizona St. (5-1 overall, 3-0 in conference) ranked 20th in the nation and atop the Pac-12 South standings. The former Flathead High star and ASU co-captain so far has 1,677 passing yards and 13 TDs and has completed 68 percent of his passes.

The Sun Devils are on the road this weekend for their toughest remaining test in the regular season. ASU faces ninth-ranked Oregon (4-1, 2-0) on Oct. 15. ESPN is scheduled to have their Game Day crew in attendance and televise the game at 8:15 Mountain time.

The Oregon game will be another chance for Brock to shine in the national spotlight. If he does, it won’t be the first time, and it most likely won’t be the last.

In his first full season as a starter, Brock has had moments that exposed his inexperience. Turnovers have been a particular problem dirtying up Brock’s resume. Against Oregon St. earlier this season, Brock had three turnovers – two INTs and a fumble – in his first three possessions.

But it’s how he recovered from that nightmarish start that tells me Brock is going to be more than fine. He ended the game 24-of-37 for 258 yards and two touchdowns as ASU beat OSU 35-20.

Another example – perhaps the best example – of Brock’s potential came earlier this season against Missouri, who was ranked 21st at the time. Brock, a junior, played nearly flawless. He totaled 353 yards and three TDs, including an 11-yarder to win in overtime. He also had a 12-yard rushing TD that put ASU up 30-16 early in the fourth quarter.

His performance against Missouri was the kind that demanded the attention of NFL teams. It’s not too early to start speculating about Brock’s future prospects, especially since the NFL has only seen a QB of Brock’s size once before (6-8 former Seahawk Dan McGwire). But his talent is beginning to catch up to his size. USC head coach Lane Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders head coach, has even called Brock “a big-time NFL talent.” This before Brock lit up the 23rd-ranked Trojans for 223 yards and two TDs. He only had seven incomplete passes and needed the offense on the field for under 25 minutes of game time.

Not a long time to shine in the spotlight. But it’s all right. He’s going to have plenty more opportunities in the future.

Updated Tuesday (10/11) after Utah game