Imagine having the opportunity to make an impression in your first college football start and your first opponent is none other than your brother.
Well it is a possibility for San Jose State freshman quarterback Walker Eget as he might face his brother Weston Eget, New Mexico State freshman QB, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at CEFCU Stadium.
“I think it's definitely special for our fans just because I don't know [what’s going to happen] between two brothers playing the same position going against each other in a game,” Walker Eget said. “It's really special that we got this opportunity to have a game matched up against each other.”
After SJSU starting QB Nick Starkel’s left-arm injury in a game against Western Michigan last Saturday, Walker was named among potential QBs who could replace him in case he was out for the rest of the season.
Walker Eget only played a couple snaps on the field last Saturday against Western Michigan. This was the first time Eget played with the Spartans and he completed one of eight pass attempts for only eight yards in his debut.
Head coach Brent Brennan said he thinks it’s a thrilling opportunity for both brothers to go up against each other.
“They're both awesome kids and we knew Weston when he was coming out [of high school] and we're happy that we got Walker here with us so I'm sure there's some heavy bragging rights on the line for that family,” Brennan said in a Monday Zoom conference.
Although it’s projected the Eget brothers will play against each other, Walker said he hopes New Mexico State will actually start his brother.
Weston hasn't played much this year as his only call to action was against the University of Texas at El Paso at Aggie Memorial Stadium on Aug. 28.
He completed one of nine pass attempts for seven yards and was also sacked four times during the match-up.
“He's worked his butt off. . . [and] deserves [to play] because he's been grinding [at New Mexico State] a lot,” Walker said. “Sadly, injuries have affected him a couple of times and that's been a minor pushback. Hopefully in this [upcoming] game he can [go] out there.”
SJSU QB coach Kevin McGiven said young QBs like Walker have been getting in a good number of reps at practices and previous games.
“[It] was good for them to get their feet wet and so we're going into this thing [where] we're letting them all compete in practice, and then see how the week unfolds. . . [so we can create] different [offensive] packages designed around different [quarterbacks],” McGiven said in an in-person interview.
Walker also said he believes sticking to the game plan coach Brennan creates and taking it day-to-day will help his development.
He said he came from a big sports family and his motivation for playing football came from following in the footsteps of his older brother, Wyatt Eget, who plays QB for the University of West Florida Argonauts.
“I think the biggest motivation was [my] oldest brother . . . who started playing football at a young age,” Walker Eget said. “But he took the journey of football and my middle [brother] and I both followed in those footsteps, and we just want to continue with that because it's more [enjoyable].”
Wyatt Eget has had a quiet year in his junior year at West Florida and has only seen the field once this season against Southwest Baptist Bobcats on Sept. 11 at Pen Air Field. He went six for nine on passing attempts with one interception.
Walker said he is excited to possibly go up against his brother Saturday and he said there’s a bit of friendly rivalry going into the game.
“[There’s] definitely some family competition because we both want to win for our program and doing the [best] that we can [would] be cool,” Walker Eget said. “We've been smack-talking ever since I got assigned [in San Jose], which is pretty funny. . . [but I] can't wait to see [Weston] as well.”
