The news was devastating for Alabama State as Texas Southern transfer quarterback Andrew Body will reportedly miss the rest of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury.
The Hornets head into Saturday night’s game against a dangerous MIles team (who beat them 21-17 last year) with more questions than answers at the QB position.
So, who is left? Who will lead the Alabama State offense? We take a look at the Hornets’ quarterback room minus Body, which appears to be short on experience at the moment but is subject to change.
Jonah O’Brien, graduate student (transfer from Eastern Illinois)
O’Brien, who bounced between EIU, Colorado State, and back to EIU (leading the team in passing yards in 2022) before heading to Montgomery, was brought in by Eddie Robinson to compete with Body for the starting job, and he had his fair share of snaps in the Orange Blossom Classic, completing five of 11 passes for 61 yards and two interceptions.
O’Brien is a taller quarterback than Body, but a little less mobile, as the game-clinching play by the North Carolina Central defense suggests.
O’Brien won’t play Saturday against Miles, but pending his health moving forward, he has the most experience on the roster and likely will be Eddie Robinson’s choice.
Zach Sims, freshman
Sims was a three-time Alabama state championship QB at Thompson High School in Alabaster, passing for over 1900 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for 392 and five more scores on the ground.
Similar to Body in size (6’2, 207 lbs.), Sims is a good choice to face the Golden Bears this weekend thanks to his dual-threat ability and, depending on how that goes, could compete with O’Brien for the permanent starting nod moving forward.
Jayvius Langford, junior (transfer from Northeast Mississippi Community College)
Langford was added for more depth on the Hornets’ quarterback chart, but with no statistics to reference, it’s hard to gauge what kind of quarterback he is and how he could help Alabama State.
James Hayes, freshman
Hayes, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is another freshman quarterback on the roster. Throwing for 22 touchdowns during his senior year at Coconut Creek High shows that he can find his playmakers and make the throws required for a successful offensive game plan. Whether he plays Saturday remains to be seen, but with injuries to their two most experienced quarterbacks haunting them, you can never have too much depth if you’re Alabama State.
