Kyle Allen will open season as Texas A&M's starting QB

Texas A&M has named Kyle Allen its starting quarterback.

Allen was 22 for 35 for 294 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-37 Liberty Bowl victory over West Virginia last season and was named the MVP of the game. Earlier this spring, coach Kevin Sumlin called him “the guy” in the race for starting QB.

“Kyle Allen is the guy right now,” Sumlin said in a May interview with Fox Sports’ Clay Travis. “I usually go two weeks before the first game before announcing the guy. You can’t end the season as the MVP of the bowl game and not start off number one.”

Still, Allen was in a heated competition with freshman five-star dual-threat Kyler Murray through the first couple weeks of fall camp.

Allen played in eight games as a true freshman after initial starter Kenny Hill flamed out, got into some disciplinary issues and ultimately transferred to TCU. Allen played in eight games and completed 118-of-192 passes with 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His biggest triumph, other than the bowl game, was leading the Aggies to a 41-38 win against No. 3 Auburn.

While it’s Allen’s job to lose, Sumlin did say in that May interview that the backup would see the field.

"The backup will play,” Sumlin said. “Competition is a coach’s best friend."

Texas A&M will open the season against Arizona State on Sept. 5 in Houston.

For more Texas A&M news, visit AggieYell.com.

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