INDIANAPOLIS – Seven student-athletes are battling to get under center for the Bulldogs in 2022. Last year's starter Bret Bushka returns to the team for his redshirt-junior campaign. Graduate transfer Mason McLaughlin and Ball State transfer Eddie Schott will join him at the position. Brody Reder and a trio of freshman will also get reps for Butler as the 'Dawgs prep for the season opener later this week.
 
"The guys in the quarterback room are all great competitors and they love to compete each day," QB Coach Caden Murphy explained. "They're a tight knit group and are all trying to do anything they can to help the team win."
 
Senior
Mason McLaughlin (6-0, 150)

McLaughlin transferred to Butler this off-season from Charleston Southern. His collegiate career began at Presbyterian College after a stellar high school career at Concord First Assembly. McLaughlin earned four varsity letters in the Charlotte suburbs and helped the Eagles win a State Championship in 2014.
 
Junior
Bret Bushka (5-9, 200)

Bushka led Butler with 1,663 passing yards a year ago. He suited up for 10 games and tossed nine touchdown passes. Bushka also rushed the ball 77 times for 314 yards and four scores. He threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns at Taylor and erupted with a career-high 403 passing yards in a road game at Dayton.
 
Sophomores
Brody Reder (6-2, 215)
Eddie Schott (6-5, 220)

Reder saw action at quarterback for Butler in six games last year. Over those six contests, he rushed the ball 15 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Reder also completed eight of his 24 pass attempts for 125 passing yards. This season the dual threat from Maineville, Ohio is listed as a QB/RB on the roster. Schott is another transfer in the quarterback room for the Bulldogs. He spent three years in Muncie playing for the Cardinals before coming to campus this off-season. A three-star recruit out of Southport H.S., Schott was a First Team All-State QB before attending Ball State in 2019. He set school records for passing yards (3,238), and touchdown passes (39) as a senior.
 
Freshmen
Brennan Stolarek (6-1, 187)
Brady Preston (6-1, 200)
Reagan Andrew (5-7, 178)

Andrew passed for 2,556 yards in 2021 with 29 touchdowns. He earned 2021 First Team All-State accolades out of St. Louis, Mo. by also rushing for 759 yards and 19 TD's. Preston also posted solid numbers as a senior with 1,646 passing yards and 824 rushing yards. He threw for 16 scores and rushed for 18. Stolarek is the third member of the freshmen trio. He accounted for 978 all-purpose yards last fall at Lincoln-Way East. He threw 12 touchdown passes and rushed for four more