For the second straight year Sacramento State football goes into the offseason unsure of who is going to be the next year’s starting quarterback.

Last year the Hornets lost four-year starter Ryan Leadingham to graduation and had a tough time replacing the school’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and passing yards. Hornets coach Steve Mooshagian decided to platoon seniors Chris Hurd and Brad Tredway for much of the season and neither was able to get the offense to move the ball consistently.

Hurd, who was a late transfer from UTEP after a stint at Washington State, is in the process of trying to get a year back of eligibility but Mooshagian said his staff will go into the recruiting season as if he will not be back with the team.

“Right now we are looking at all aspects with recruiting,” Mooshagian said. “We are looking into junior college transfers, high school players and have even gotten calls from possible transfers from I-A schools.”

One thing that hampered the Hornets last season was Hurd did not come into camp until August and he was the most effective quarterback Mooshagian had this past season. Mooshagian did say that getting a quarterback by the time spring practice came around would not be a priority.

“We will not try to get a transfer in here just because they would be a mid-year transfer,” Mooshagian said. “Out of the guys we get this offseason we are going to put the best player on the field regardless of if he’s a newcomer or a guy we’ve got coming back.

“Right now there is a lot to sell a recruit as being a quarterback for Sac State.”

Heading into next year the only returning signal-callers to play for the Hornets are sophomore Crosby Wehr, who played sparingly at the end of the season, and junior Tim Bessolo who did not take a snap in 2005.

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Mitch McLaughlin can be reached at [email protected]