Miss. State QBs Fitzgerald, Staley ready to step in

STARKVILLE – At 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-6, Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley, respectively, boast the most prototypical measureables of any Mississippi State quarterback.

They have the strongest arms on the team.

They are the future of Bulldog football.

Yet, in no way were they ready for the field in 2014.

"A lot of times a quarterback thinks, 'I'm ready. I'm going to be the star,'" MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "Then all of a sudden they go see a guy who is potentially a star in front of them and see what he's doing and you're kind of wowed (saying), 'OK, I wasn't quite a ready as I thought I'd be.'"

Fitzgerald and Staley both hail from Georgia and redshirted their first season at Mississippi State. Fitzgerald enrolled early last winter. He practiced during bowl workouts and participated in the spring as well.

Staley joined in the summer. He arrived eager to display his talents in both football and basketball.

When the season began, they found themselves watching from the sideline, and then reality struck — they weren't going to step on the playing field in 2014.

"It was a big change. I was so used to being all out there," Staley said. "Then I had to step back and kind of learn how to do different things and see how things go on. I feel like it was a great learning experience for me."

In 2015, they hope to contribute more.

But first, they needed to learn to like each other.

Fitzgerald committed to Mississippi State first but didn't make it public. A few days later, Staley publicly gave his word to MSU; Fitzgerald soon followed.

In their minds, an opportunity to play turned into a quarterback battle between the three-star talents.

"When I was coming in out of high school, I didn't really think anybody could do anything with me," Staley said. "That's just how I felt. That's how I played."

Said Fitzgerald: "We didn't really think we were going to like each other too much, but we got here, and we ended up clicking."

They met at Big Dawg Camp in the summer of 2013 and began texting afterward. The bond grew even stronger this year as roommates, watching Netflix before road games.

"Obviously it's competition when you first come in," said MSU's starting quarterback Dak Prescott. "You're not going to like the guy you have to compete with for a job, but we're brothers. We all have such a good relationship."

But the competition won't die down.

Fitzgerald and Staley are aware of that.

"If I see him make a good throw, in my mind, I feel like I have to make a good throw or he's a step ahead of me," Staley said. "Honestly, if it wasn't for Nick, I probably wouldn't know some of the playbook that I know now. But that's competition. Me and him push each other in practice."

Fitzgerald might end up with two spring camps under his belt before Staley participates in his first. Mullen listed Staley as "doubtful" for spring practice after the freshman had surgery to repair a torn platellar tendon in his right knee.

Since the injury won't affect his arm, Staley could possibly throw from a chair during the spring.

Fitzgerald, on the other hand, needs to be on his feet.

"To be honest, my footwork isn't too great. I really don't open up a lot when I throw," Fitzgerald said. "The accuracy comes from that. So if I can get my footwork down, my throwing motion is fine."

Fitzgerald ran the option offense in high school, so he concentrated on his foot placement in regards to pitching the ball. In college, he has to adjust to throwing more.

Mullen has experience molding option quarterbacks. He helped Alex Smith evolve into the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL 2005 draft.

Before that comparison can be made, Fitzgerald needs to comprehend the playbook.

"You never realize how in-depth you have to know the game. Coming from high school, I never ran anything too complex or anything like that," Fitzgerald said. "I got here, and it was kind of like another language."

The duo might need to learn quicker. Prescott has until Jan. 15 to make his decision regarding the NFL Draft. If he leaves Mississippi State, Fitzgerald and Staley will compete with Damian Williams for the spot in 2015.

"They've been good, sometimes hard headed," Prescott joked. "Two very talented guys obviously. Big guys, I don't necessarily like looking up to them. I try to coach them up. They're good. They're talented."

And they're waiting their turn.

Contact Michael Bonner at (601) 961-7289 or mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.