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PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Jason Beck may be taking over at quarterback this week for Brigham Young starter John Beck, who is questionable for Saturday's game against Utah State with a sprained right ankle.
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said Tuesday that Jason Beck, no relation to John, is preparing to make his first start Saturday against Utah State.
"It will be day to day all the way up until game time," Mendenhall said. "But it looks like as of today that Jason will start."
Jason Beck played with the first team during practice Monday and Mendenhall said he would again Tuesday as John Beck rested his right ankle, which he re-aggravated during a double-overtime loss at Boston College on Saturday.
John Beck has had ankle problems since the season opener but said his right ankle was especially sore after Saturday's game. He was named Monday as the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week after passing for 436 yards, completing 38 of 59 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions Saturday.
Jason Beck, the Cougars' field goal holder, has completed 23 of 46 passes for 232 yards in his career, all coming in relief against Stanford two years ago.
"We're lucky as a football program to have a senior as a backup. He's very experienced and very poised," Mendenhall said. "His arm strength isn't probably quite what John's is but his mobility is probably a little better."
The offensive line will also be without left tackle Eddie Keele, who is out for the season after tearing a knee ligament Saturday. Mendenhall also suspended starting center Sete Aulai, who has struggled with some low shotgun snaps to Beck this season, for an undisclosed team rules violation.
On the net: www.byucougars.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-19-06 1415MDT
