Hayes: ASU's Kenny Dillingham is college football's new QB Whisperer
This isn’t some unique formula that if followed to the letter magically transforms quarterbacks.
So take a deep breath, and follow along with Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham as he explains the transformational steps of quarterbacks under his watch.
Be a good guy. Study. Take what the defense gives you.
How’s that for groundbreaking?
“I want them to be the best version of themselves that they can be,” Dillingham says.
It’s so simple, you believe it. Especially when witnessing empirical evidence on the field.
So while Trenton Bourguet, Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne and 5-star freshman Jaden Rashada compete at Arizona State for the starting job, there is a clear understanding of what came before them. And how to get there.
Bo Nix (Auburn, Oregon), Jordan Travis (Florida State) and Brady White (Memphis) have all been down this road, staring into the eyes of a 20-something assistant coach, who grew into a 30-something head coach with a now growing history of developing efficient and prolific quarterbacks.
They all met Dillingham, and were told from Day 1 it begins and ends both on and off the field.
“I say it all the time to our guys, I want good people,” Dillingham said. “Be a good person.”
That’s Step 1. And Step 2? Knowledge.
Know the position and all of its responsibilities, and know defenses. Not just enough to get by.
Know so much that absolutely nothing happening — pre-snap and the actual play — is a surprise. Know so much that you always have an answer.
You may not have the arm talent to get a throw where it needs to go. You may not be able to throw off-schedule accurately, or use your legs to stress a defense.
You may have to deal with a better team, or a better player, or a remarkable individual play.
But you’ll know protections and route options. You’ll know fronts and stunts and blitzes. Man coverage and zone coverage and combo coverages.
Nothing will surprise you.
“When you know what’s coming, it’s an incredibly peaceful feeling,” Nix said last year during his 2nd season with Dillingham (his 1st was with Auburn), “(Dillingham) made football fun again.”
That’s Step 2. Finally, there’s Step 3: Take what the defense gives you.
This, believe it or not, is the most difficult piece to embrace. Because this step involves the human condition.
This step involves ego and brings the transformational steps all the way back to its foundation: Be the best version of yourself.
Every quarterback at every level thinks he can make any throw at any time. He wants big plays and points and wins, and everything that goes with it.
That involves patience. That involves understanding what the defense is running, and what is there to be taken.
No defense, Dillingham tells his quarterbacks, takes everything away. There’s always something available.
Once you find it and press it, the defense reacts and something else becomes available. It’s a constant chess match.
“He’s not a yeller. He’s not going to stand on the sideline and scream about a bad play,” Travis said. “It’s what did you see? Here’s how we’ll attack it.”
Five years ago, Dillingham got his first job as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and play-caller at Memphis. His 1st-year starter, White, had 26 TD passes.
A year later, Dillingham took the same job at Auburn and played with Nix, a 5-star recruit who walked into unthinkable expectations as a legacy player. Nix played his best at Auburn in the 1 season with Dillingham, then regressed as a sophomore and junior.
Only when he transferred to Oregon last season and reunited with Dillingham, did he grow into the 5-star potential — finishing with 43 TDs (14 rush).
In 2020, Dillingham reunited with former Memphis coach Mike Norvell at Florida State, and the slow slog of rebuilding the Noles included developing Travis — a raw but talented transfer from Louisville.
By the time Dillingham left for Oregon after the 2021 season, Travis was set up for a huge season in 2022 — where he finished with 31 TDs (7 rush).
Now both Nix and Travis are among the leaders for this year’s Heisman Trophy.
“I want to see a guy take control of the game, play with confidence, but understand Patrick Mahomes’ average touchdown pass last year was less than 4.5 yards thrown distance for a reason,” Dillingham said. “It’s because smart wins. So be smart.”
That’s what Bourguet, Pyne and Rashada were staring at as fall camp began this week. They’re different players, with unique strengths — all trying to win a job leading a team with little expectations.
Pyne has experience at a blue-blood program, and his strength is game management. Rashada has elite arm talent.
Then there’s Bourguet, who played well at times last season, is tough and can make every throw. He played in high school for his dad and wants to be a coach after playing.
“When you’re teaching him a system,” Dillingham said, “It’s really easy to translate into what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
Be a good guy. Study. Take what the defense gives you.
Earlier this spring, Bourguet walked into Dillingham’s office and told him something strange had happened. He was watching film differently, and it was as clear as it could be.
Knowledge wins.
“I think that’s what confidence is,” Dillingham said. “They watch the game different, they see the game different, they see it in this new light that we’re seeing together.”
There’s nothing magical about that.