JACKSONVILLE – So after spring practice, where is the battle of the Jacksonville State football quarterbacks.
Logan Smothers was the leader for most of the spring, taking the team’s first reps and leading most practices during the spring, but UConn transfer Zion Turner took the first reps of the spring game. From there, Smothers saw reps, followed by Caden Creel with Ashton Frye and Griffin Brewster and Te’Sean Smoot also got a lot of reps. Several defenders had reps in the first team’s attack, but with the wet weather and sometimes heavy rain, some had difficulty throwing the ball up the field.
SPRING GAME: What we saw at Jacksonville State’s spring football game, from quarterbacks to new gadget players
NEW HIRES: What first impressions and initial impact did Jacksonville State football’s new defensive signings make
Although the quarterbacks have shown many times during spring ball what they are capable of physically, including running the ball – a hallmark of the Gamecock offense, head coach Rich Rodriguez doesn’t know if the position is where he wants them to be mentally, but this It’s a task for the long summer ahead.
“I think they have made progress in understanding not just what we want, but football in general. There is still another level we need to reach,” Rodriguez said. “I’m not convinced our centre-backs are where they need to be mentally to be highly successful and that’s not their fault, it’s our fault, we need to get them ready to go and make sure that after this summer they don’t just understand what we want. but I understand football in general.”
Smothers was the second quarterback last year, but he got a lot of playing time, starting four games. He threw for 735 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games. He was the only quarterback in a non-contact jersey. Turner started 13 games as a true freshman at UConn before playing in four last season. Ashton Frye and Te’Sean Smoot saw some time last year for the Gamecocks.
Griffin Brewster didn’t see any time at Kent State, with Creel not playing at Jax State. Even with the rain, Rodriguez hopes the quarterback depth shined on Friday for fans.
“It was hard to tell with the defenders, since it was so wet, it was difficult to throw the ball, but I think we will go deeper into it,” Rodriguez said.
The Gamecocks will also add Furman transfer Tyler Huff over the summer, adding to one of the deepest positions on the roster.
Maxwell Donaldson covers Jacksonville State high school sports and track and field for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared in The Gadsden Times: Where the Jacksonville State quarterback battle stands after the spring
