STANFORD, Calif. – Senior Ryan Burns will be Stanford's starting quarterback in the season-opening contest against Kansas State. Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw made the announcement after Wednesday's practice.
Shaw noted that both the 6-5, 232-pound Burns and junior quarterback Keller Chryst would see action against the Wildcats.
"Ryan Burns will start and play a good chunk of the game," said Shaw. "Keller Chryst will play as well. We're going to play both guys and try to win a game.
"There hasn't been a huge separation between the two. Both guys have played extremely well. Ryan has been enough ahead to get the nod."
A science, technology and society major, Burns played in four games last season but did not throw a pass. He rushed for 13 yards.
His lone pass attempt in 2014 went for 13 yards against UC Davis, one of two contests in which the Leesburg, Virginia, native saw action.
Burns follows Kevin Hogan, the winningest starting quarterback in school history. In fact, Burns grew up less than 30 miles from Hogan's hometown of McLean, Virginia.
Hogan led Stanford to three Pac-12 titles and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Stanford opens its season Sept. 2 at home against Kansas State. FS1 will broadcast the game beginning at 6 p.m. PT. Tickets are available online at GoStanford.com.