Toscano Named Starting QB For Season Opener

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Thursday, following the second fall scrimmage, Charleston Southern Head Coach Jay Mills has announced that redshirt-junior quarterback A.J. Toscano will be the starting quarterback against the University of Florida in the first game of the season.

“I have been very pleased with A.J.’s performance, and not just during this fall camp,” said Mills. “He has steadily progressed since arriving here, and not just with his mechanics, but in establishing himself as a leader on the team.”

Toscano, who transferred to CSU during the spring of 2008, played in just over one quarter against Savannah State last year before taking a medical redshirt. He completed seven of his 11 pass attempts for 74 yards with one touchdown and one interception during his brief action.

Even though it will be the fourth starting quarterback in as many years for CSU, Toscano has been around the program for over a year and feels comfortable taking the reigns of the offensive unit.

“I feel very confident about what we are doing offensively,” said Toscano. “We had a great summer with everyone here working hard and have had a great start to our fall camp. I think we all have really high expectations this year.”

Noting the irony, Mills said that Toscano’s experience is what set him apart from transfer Andrew Trudnowski as well as Brad Taylor and Jordan Belser.

“He has a really good knowledge of our offense, probably second only to Collin Drafts in his senior year,” said Mills. “If that knowledge translates onto the field during game day, which I trust that it will, A.J. will perform very well. He has a mastery of not only his position, but everyone else on the field.”

Toscano will immediately be put to the test as the Bucs travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on the defending BCS champions and preseason top-ranked Florida Gators. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net at 7 p.m.