Spring Practice 13: The Quarterbacks

KENT, Ohio -  With the Spring Football Game just two days away, Kent State completed its 13th practice on Thursday morning at Dix Stadium.  Offensive Coordinator Brian Rock and four different quarterbacks talked with media afterward about a wide open competition for the starting position and their progression with a new offense in place.

"I've been real excited about their desire to compete," Rock said of all his quarterbacks.  "They're very willing to be coached.  We want them to have a point guard mentality and dish the ball off to the playmakers.  They have to be football junkies."

The Golden Flashes return two-year starter Spencer Keith, but also have returning game experience from Giogio Morgan and Sal Battles.  Also right in the middle of the competition for the starting nod is redshirt freshman Cedric McCloud.

"Every day when we come into practice it's a competition," Morgan said.  "We all get the same amount of reps.  We were told from the beginning: Just because you're with the first group doesn't mean you're the first quarterback.  This offense is going to make defenses adjust to us as opposed to just us reading the defense and adjusting to them."

"The competition brings out the best in everyone," Keith said.  "You've got to be in the film room a lot and it's really good for all of us to have." 

"Saturday you're going to see a fast offense,"  Battles said of the spring game, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday.