NORFOLK — How good Old Dominion might be this season remains a mystery.
Who will be the Monarchs’ starting quarterback does not.
Grant Wilson, a junior transfer from Fordham who has experience in first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Decker’s up-tempo offense, will start for ODU in its Sept. 2 opener at Virginia Tech, fourth-year head coach Ricky Rahne said Tuesday.
The start will be the first in the 6-foot-3, 217-pound Wilson’s college career after he spent two seasons as a backup at Fordham.
Wilson won the job after a three-man battle with sophomore Jack Shields and true freshman Colton Joseph.
“He had a great camp,” Rahne said of Wilson during the team’s annual media day event at S.B. Ballard Stadium. “I’m excited about our quarterback room in general. I really was pleased with the quarterback play we had all camp.
“Grant’s earned it and done a nice job.”
Wilson, a native of Arlington, completed 10 of 13 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns at Fordham, where Decker was a record-setting coordinator before joining Rahne’s staff this offseason.
“I’m still going to say I think we have a couple of quarterbacks,” Decker said, adding that Joseph has the potential to push the other two.
“Grant’s familiarity with the offense obviously helps.”
Wilson was a two-time district offensive player of the year at Yorktown High. He passed for 2,632 yards and 24 touchdowns as a high school senior.
Wilson said he models himself after former Fordham quarterback Tim DeMorat, who passed for 4,981 yards and 56 touchdowns — both school records — last season.
“I feel ready,” Wilson said. “I’m preparing the way I know how.”
David Hall, [email protected]. Twitter @DavidHallVP.
