The Boise State Broncos have named Joe Southwick their starting quarterback for the 2012 season. Southwick will be under center this Friday night when the Broncos take on Michigan State in an opening weekend non-conference clash. Southwick will of course be replacing legendary Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, the winningest quarterback in NCAA history.

Southwick is a junior who served as the primary backup to Moore over the past two seasons, but he spent the offseason battling mobile sophomore Grant Hedrick and freshman Jimmy Laughrea for the starting job in 2012. Head coach Chris Petersen said the Broncos would prefer to redshirt true freshman Nick Patti. Southwick has completed 40 of a career 54 pass attempts for 400 yards, but he'll now man the ship for the offensive wizard Petersen. His experience is limited to garbage time mop-up duties but he did have a solid spring game and fall camp.

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