Quarterback updates from the Mid-American Conference, where all 13 teams now have set starters:
Akron: Sophomore Kyle Pohl has beaten out Colorado transfer Nick Hirschman, a junior who arrived over the summer. Hirschman started two games for the Buffs last season. "Kyle Pohl, he has a golden arm," Zips coach Terry Bowden told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "He has a chance to be something special."
Bowling Green: Incumbent starter Matt Schilz held off sophomore Matt Johnson for the job. Schilz will be a four-year starter and guided the Falcons to the Military Bowl last season. But going into camp, coach Dave Clawson said Johnson was slightly ahead of Schilz, who has thrown 39 picks and has a career completion percentage of 58.4.
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Central Michigan: Junior Cody Kater beat out sophomore Alex Niznak for the job, but coach Dan Enos said there will be some packages for Niznak. Kater played in two games for CMU last season after transferring from junior college, attempting four passes. Niznak has not seen any game action. CMU is replacing 3,000-yard passer Ryan Radcliff.
Kent State: Redshirt freshman Colin Reardon edged out senior David Fisher for the starting spot. But new coach Paul Haynes said Reardon's hold on the starting job is fluid and that Fisher almost certainly will play this season. Reardon will have the best pair of backs in the MAC to work with in Dri Archer and Trayion Durham.
Massachusetts: Sophomore Mike Wegzyn has kept the job. Wegzyn started 11 times last season, when UMass went 1-11. The guy who started the other game, sophomore A.J. Doyle, again will be Wegzyn's backup. Wegzyn needs to be sharp in the opener against Wisconsin, as UMass will be without starting tailback Jordan Broadnax (knee injury).
Miami (Ohio): Fifth-year senior Austin Boucher is the new starter. He started four times as a redshirt freshman in 2010, leading the RedHawks to a 4-0 mark, including wins in the MAC championship game over Northern Illinois and in the GoDaddy.Com bowl against Middle Tennessee State. But he has played in only 10 games in the past two seasons, all as a sub; he attempted only 23 passes in those 10 games. Ohio State offered Boucher extremely late in the recruiting process for the 2009 class but he stood by Miami, the school that had recruited him the longest; the offer from the Buckeyes came after Tajh Boyd, whom the Buckeyes were heavily involved with, chose to sign with Clemson.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
