DAVIS, Calif. – Now that training camp is underway, UCDavisAggies.com will break down each position group leading up to the Texas A&M – Commerce season opener. Coach Quinn Shanbour breaks down the quarterbacks for the first installment of the series.
UC Davis has a long lineage of quarterback excellence, stemming from George Bonacich and Bob Biggs to NFL first-round pick Ken O'Brien. The names go on-and-on with Mark Grieb, J.T. O'Sullivan, Jake Meier, and now the tradition continues with Miles Hastings.
"Miles, at his younger years, had to compete a lot and it's finally his turn," said Shanbour. "He has gotten the job and taken the ropes and he is putting the offense on his back. The things that make him great is his football IQ. He is one of the most intelligent quarterbacks I have ever gotten to work with. He knows the path to excellence and is looking to repeat that this year."
Hastings, who was named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List earlier today, is awarded to the top offensive player in the nation at the FCS level, returns for his second full season as the starter under center in 2023.
"He has 100 percent confidence and 100 percent belief, and that is tremendous," head coach Dan Hawkins said. Bill McCartney used to tell me all the time the most powerful words you can tell a kid is I believe in you, and they can feel that and really take off."
The signal-caller led the Big Sky Conference with 3,048 passing yards for a 277.1 yards per contest average in 2022. He also paced the conference with a 69.8 completion percentage. His 154.2 efficiency rating ranked second in the league.
"He is kind of getting in the Jake Meier category. Jake ran our football team here for a couple of years, on and off the field," Hawkins added. "He knew what was going on schematically and had full command of what was going on out there, and he [Hastings] is very much the same."
The San Marcos native threw for 20 touchdowns paired with only six interceptions. Hastings sported three games with over 300 passing yards and threw for multiple touchdowns in six contests.
Two quarterbacks join Hastings in the room. Sophomore Grant Harper played in three games a year ago, completing 8-of-9 passes for 62 yards. The left-hander completed 5-of-6 passes and tossed his first career touchdown on the road at Northern Colorado.
"We have some young guys that have game experience which is awesome," Shanbouor said. "They are comfortable with the system and are only trying to master the offense just like we would expect them to as a starter."
Michael Ingrassia played in one contest as a true freshman, also finding the field at Northern Colorado. The Novato native led Marin Catholic to the 2021 CIF state title and in doing so was named the All-Metro Player of the Year. He tossed 49 touchdowns and was only picked off twice.
Newcomer David Rasor enters the collegiate ranks from Corona Del Mar High School, where he helped the Sea Kings to a 38-9 record over his prep career. The Newport Beach native was named the 2021 Los Angeles Times Daily Pilot Dream Team Offensive Player of the Year. He also was the ESPN 300 Elite Invitational Quarterback MVP.
"David Rasor is everything you want as a leader and a person, the integrity, the attention to detail and the focus, he has that," Shanbour noted. "There was a reason why he was a highly touted recruit and I think he has a bright future here at UC Davis."
Coach Shanbour also credits the addition of Trey Shimabukuro to the coaching staff. Shimabukuro has been working directly with the quarterbacks as well and his impact has been immediately felt at the position since his addition this winter.
Keep an eye out for more positional breakdowns as training camp progresses.
UC Davis will open the 2023 season on the road at Texas A&M – Commerce. The season-opener is slated for Thursday, Aug. 31, in Commerce, Texas. Football season tickets and mini-plans are now on sale. Click HERE or call the UC Davis Ticket Office at 530-752-2471 for more information.
