:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50593525/usa-today-8960652.0.jpg)
It had become increasingly clear over the past week or so, but the news was made official today.
Manny Wilkins will be the starting quarterback on Saturday for the Arizona State Sun Devils' season opener against Northern Arizona.
The news was announced by head coach Todd Graham while conducting a radio interview on the Doug & Wolf Show.
Wilkins - the only quarterback on the roster who has previous game experience with Arizona State - entered fall camp competing with freshman Brady White and sophomore Bryce Perkins to earn the starting nod. Perkins was soon eliminated from that race after suffering a neck injury in the second week of practices, and Wilkins started to pull away from White gradually as camp wore on.
According to head coach Todd Graham, Wilkins' teammates had known for weeks that he would ultimately be named the starter.
Graham said the team has known who the starting QB is for weeks, but OC Chip Lindsey, Brady White and Manny Wilkins didn't budge. #ASU
— Zac Pacleb (@ZacPacleb) August 30, 2016
No matter who was selected to start Saturday's season opener, the Sun Devils are entering the season as just one of two FBS teams without a quarterback on the roster who has thrown a pass in a collegiate game.
Wilkins did appear in three games as a freshman last season for the maroon and gold, carrying the ball a total of seven times for 55 yards while first-string quarterback Mike Bercovici received a breather on the sidelines.
What is still unknown is whether or not White will receive any significant snaps on Saturday. Graham did say in his radio interview that he had "great confidence" in the freshman.
Kickoff for tomorrow's season opener is set for 8:00 p.m. at Sun Devil Stadium.