I think we as fans overthink this. Look at it this way. Going along with Puget Ute, you NEVER want a TRUE freshman starting as your QB. They just aren’t as good. Even at USC, Barkley was a disappointment as a true freshman. So was Rosen.
So, because of that, there is a 99% chance Huntley is your starter next fall.
So, what do you do with Huntley this year? I think no matter what, Huntley is the #2 QB. Whether Bateman or Williams starts, Huntley is #2. Heck, Huntley may be #2 no matter what, even if the #1 gets hurt.
I think you use Huntley the way that we used him in the Bowl game or the way that Urban used Tebow when Tebow as a true freshman. You get him in the game for 10-15 snaps, take advantage of his legs and give the defense something else to look at.
You then run Williams/Bateman as your QB for 60 snaps a game.
Then, next fall, Huntley is the #1 QB, a JC kid is the backup and you redshirt Tuttle and Shelley.
Then, in 2019, if Huntley was amazing he keeps the job. If not, open it back up.
So, you look like this:
2017 – Williams and Bateman (1 & 3) SR, Huntley, SO
2018 – Huntley (JR), JC kid, Tuttle and Shelley (Redshirt)
2019 – Huntley (SR) vs Tuttle (FR) vs Shelley (FR), JC kid, redshirt a FR
2020 – Tuttle (SO), Shelley (SO), some RS Fresh, redshirt another kid
2021 – Tuttle (JR), some RS SO, RS FR, redshirt another kid.
2022 – Tuttle (SR unless he is in the pros 🙂 ), etc.