COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -Texas A&M used both Jerrod Johnson and backup Ryan Tannehill in a win over Kansas last weekend.
Now, the question is which quarterback the Aggies will go with Saturday against Texas Tech.
Coach Mike Sherman won’t say who will start this week.
“There’s really no need to at this point,” he said.
Johnson, a senior who owns almost every passing record in school history, said he hasn’t been told of the plans for this week. Still, he assumes he’ll remain the starter.
“I’m going into it thinking I will be,” he said. “I don’t see why I wouldn’t. But at the same time it’s not up to me.”
Johnson started against the Jayhawks and got the Aggies out to a 17-3 lead before he was replaced by Tannehill in the second quarter. Tannehill, who has played mostly at receiver with Johnson entrenched at quarterback, extended Texas A&M’s lead to 31-10 by halftime.
Johnson returned to start the second half and remained in the game for two scoreless drives before again being replaced by Tannehill. He finished the game and led the Aggies to two more touchdowns to complete the 45-10 victory.
Johnson was 12 of 20 for 139 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Tannehill was 12 of 16 for 155 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score.
Sherman said the playing time was split almost exactly between the two and that a plan like that “could work” in the future.
He bristled when asked if he felt a quarterback controversy might hinder his team’s chemistry.
“What’s the controversy? We have two good quarterbacks,” he said. “The controversy is when you don’t have a quarterback, in my mind. I don’t see there being a controversy at all.”
Expectations were high for Johnson to lead the Aggies back into contention for the Big 12 South title this season, but instead his errors were a key in Texas A&M’s three-game losing skid before the win over Kansas. Johnson has thrown 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions this season.
Johnson said all the right things about being a team player and being OK with whatever Sherman decides on Monday, but it was clear that the situation was wearing on him.
“If I told you that I was happy with the way the season’s gone in more ways than one, I’d be lying to you,” he said. “It definitely is frustrating … but there is no point in complaining about it.”
Sherman believes Texas A&M will need both quarterbacks to beat the Red Raiders, but didn’t indicate how the playing time will be divided. He said the close relationship between Johnson and Tannehill will ensure that there aren’t any problems with the arrangement.
“If they weren’t unselfish and they didn’t like each other and they didn’t complement each other then, yeah, there might be (problems),” Sherman said. “But there’s absolutely, positively no friction and we have two good quarterbacks and they both played well the other day.”
Tannehill, a junior, had thrown only 13 passes in his career before Saturday. He was glad to get some time at quarterback in a situation where the game was still in question.
“It definitely feels good,” he said. “Not being able to throw many passes and basically be on mop up duty my whole career so far, it definitely felt good to get in there and get some action and get a feel for the game.”
Both quarterbacks said they will do whatever is asked of them this week and will back the other, insisting there aren’t any bad feelings between them.
“We’re fine,” Johnson said. “We’re both competitors. We both want to play, but at the same time we’re friends and we understand that it’s a team and only one can play at a time. When I’m out there he supports me, when he’s out there I support him.”
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