Could Ryan Finley have helped UA’s quarterback woes?

Ryan Finley, who passed for almost 3,000 yards this year as a junior quarterback at Paradise Valley High School, committed last week to Boise State.

If he was good enough to get an offer from the No. 8 team in the country, he’s probably good enough to play for either of Arizona’s Pac-12 programs.

Was he overlooked, or did Boise State pull off a recruiting coup?

Arizona State took a look, but instead made an offer to Tyler Bruggman at Brophy Prep to join the Class of 2013.  But incoming coach, Todd Graham, isn’t hurting for signal callers.  He inherited a pretty decent group.

However, down in Tucson it’s a different story.  We all thought Rich Rodriguez was in serious need of a good quarterback.  The new University of Arizona head coach is piecing together an offense with a quarterback who didn’t play last year; one who played last year, but as a wide receiver; and two incoming freshmen, one of whom didn’t come even close to 1,000 yards in total offense as a senior.

Rich Rod had a good one right here in his back yard.  But the kid is headed for Idaho now.

Finley is a 6’4″ four-sport athlete with a 4.5 grade-point average who his coach calls a “high-character kid.”  He threw for 2,911 yards last season for the Trojans, completing 63 percent of his passes.

Besides great size for his position and a solid work ethic, Finley runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and has a 35-inch vertical leap.

And he is running a spread offense at PV.  Guess what Rich Rod will likely be running this year?  Yep, spread offense.

Matt Scott was the projected starter for the Cats going into spring practice.  The fifth-year senior took a redshirt season last year rather than ride the bench while Nick Foles finished his record-setting career.

The 6’3″ California product played well in the few chances he got in 2010, winning two games during a short period when Foles was injured.  He accumulated 688 yards in total offense against Washington and UCLA.

To back him up, Rodriguez moved Richard Morrison from his receiver position last year to under center.  At 5’11”, 183 pounds, the former high school quarterback is a scaled-down version of the taller, heavier Foles.

Morrison was actually recruited by former head coach Mike Stoops as a quarterback, but moved to wide receiver just to be able to get on the field.  He played at the QB position during his true freshman and redshirt freshman seasons.

He was one of the top quarterback prospects coming out of Royce City High School in Texas after a senior season that included 2,472 yards passing and another 586 on the ground.  But he hasn’t seen any college game time under center.

The other back-ups will be right out of high school.

Javelle Allen appears to have the most promise.  Another Texas recruit, the 6’0″, 205-pound lefty threw for 2,347 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior – and rushed for another 1,539 yards and 22 TDs.

Joshua Kern, still another from the Panhandle State, had a combined 734 yards last year for a 4-6 Clark High School team in San Antonio.  He was most productive through the air, with 447 yards.

So the ranks in the most important position on the field are a little thin.  Ryan Finley would have been a welcome addition, even if he wouldn’t get there until 2013.

C’mon, how difficult could it be to talk the kid out of going to a top-10 team in the country, which is already loaded with 4-star prospects?  The Broncos are deep in talent at quarterback, and just offered scholarships to two other QBs in the 2013 Class – both of whom are ranked in the top 20 of that class.  Talk about a steep climb up the depth charts.

And then there’s the blue football field that Boise State laid down in Bronco Stadium.  Maybe Rodriguez should have teased him about having to play his college career on Smurf Turf.

Hey, anything goes in the recruiting wars.