Three hopefuls aim for quarterback spot

Call it the quarterback cha-cha-cha.

Because of injuries and ineffectiveness, the UNM football team’s quarterbacks played musical chairs last season, with the Lobos starting four guys at the position.

And even though spring practices concluded Saturday at University Stadium, the music’s still going.

By all accounts, head coach Mike Locksley said the Lobos have three capable starters: B.R. Holbrook, Tarean Austin and Stump Godfrey.
Holbrook was held out of spring practices while recovering from offseason knee surgery. He won the Lobos’ starting job last year and played in four games before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the season. In Holbrook’s place, sophomores Austin and Godfrey took the majority of spring snaps, but Locksley was quick to point out that Holbrook shouldn’t be forgotten.

“We’ve got a rule in place: You don’t lose your starting position due to injury,” he said.

For now, all Locksley can do is assess what he’s seen from the players who participated.

The breakdown: Austin, after a near flawless performance, is a viable candidate to lead the Lobos in 2011. He started two games in 2010 and played in seven. Austin, who played for Cherry in the first half and switched to Silver in the second half, finished 14-of-27 for 202 yards. With Silver, Austin was 8-of-9 and had a touchdown pass.

Austin said he’s using the early quarterback competition to prepare for fall.

“It’s a motivation thing, and it gets you to stay on your job,” he said.
Godfrey took snaps with both squads, and threw for 100 yards and rushed for another 117 yards on 15 carries. Freshmen Dustin Walton and Kevin Chavez took snaps under center during the spring game but are not likely to challenge the other three for the starting job this season.

Locksley said he won’t announce a starting quarterback until the end of fall camp, making it a tradition. He conceded that Austin and Godfrey have progressed.

“Have they improved to a level in which I’m ready to name one of the young guys a starter?” he said. “I’d say that when you look at the 15 practices we’ve had, you’ve definitely seen improvement, but not the type of improvement to say one of these guys is our guy.”
The same goes for the wide receivers.
Ty Kirk, who led the team in receptions and receiving yards last season, joins Michael Scarlett and Quintell Solomon as the returning wideouts. But they have been overshadowed this spring by transfers Lamaar Thomas and Deon Long.
Converted wide receiver Emmanuel McPhearson also threw his name in the mix, after hauling in seven passes for 112 yards in the Lobos’ Cherry-Silver game.
Austin said all the receivers can make big plays.
“All of them are go-to receivers,” he said. “It’s just whoever makes the biggest play.”
Locksley said the fall training camp will show who will lead the team and who that leader will throw to.
“What we’ve got to do is get ourselves ready for a great summer,” Locksley said. “Everything now is geared toward September 3rd versus Colorado State.”