Marshall Faulk, the first-year Southern University head football coach, has kept a tight lid on information throughout preseason camp, and his quarterback competition is no exception.
Faulk had previously indicated he hoped to identify his starter during the spring. That timeline has changed dramatically. Based on reporting from Southern’s first open preseason scrimmage, the Jaguars may not reveal their starting quarterback until he actually takes the field against Alabama State on Aug. 29 in Birmingham.
Southern’s approach to secrecy was apparent during Saturday’s scrimmage at A.W. Mumford Stadium. Coaches and players were not made available to the media afterward, and spectators were instructed not to record video.
But what happened on the field provided at least a few clues according to reporting by The Advocate from Saturdy’s scrimmage.
And Christian Johnson appears to have emerged as the quarterback to watch.
Christian Johnson gets first-team opportunity
Southern has seven quarterbacks listed on its roster, but only three saw action during the open scrimmage: Johnson, Ashton Strother and Wyatt McCauley.
Johnson received the first opportunity with Southern’s first-team offense.
The Hutchinson Community College transfer didn’t arrive at Southern until early June, but the junior already appeared comfortable directing Faulk’s offense.
Johnson showed both his arm and mobility.
On Southern’s opening drive, the 6-foot, 206-pound quarterback connected with redshirt freshman Daejawn Smith for 17 yards on an out route toward the left sideline.
He demonstrated another dimension during the second possession, escaping a collapsing pocket and turning the play into a 20-yard run.
Perhaps the best example of his composure came on the third drive.
Johnson mishandled an inaccurate snap, recovered the football and quickly turned what could have become a broken play into an approximately eight-yard touchdown run.
His most impressive throw came later.
From around the 35-yard line, Johnson dropped an accurate pass over man coverage to 6-foot-3 junior receiver Malachi Jackson for a 27-yard gain down the left sideline.
Taken together, Johnson’s work with the starters and his performance Saturday provide the strongest public evidence yet that he could be Faulk’s choice against Alabama State.
But Southern isn’t saying.
Ashton Strother remains in the quarterback battle
If anyone in the competition has the advantage of experience inside the program, it’s Ashton Strother.
Strother appeared in 10 games for Southern last season and worked with the second-team offense during Saturday’s scrimmage.
His performance reportedly looked similar to what he showed during spring practice.
Strother’s best moment came during the sixth drive when he used a five-step drop and connected with Jackson on a well-placed 23-yard pass.
He and Johnson also led Southern’s two-minute drills near the end of the scrimmage, although the defense made moving the football considerably more difficult during that portion of practice.
Strother’s familiarity with Southern gives Faulk another option if he decides experience is particularly important for an opener against a SWAC opponent.
Wyatt McCauley gets his opportunity
Long Beach State transfer Wyatt McCauley was the third quarterback used Saturday.
McCauley had some positive moments working further down the depth chart, although his overall passing performance reportedly didn’t match what Johnson showed with the first unit.
His highlight came on a fade into the left corner of the end zone that was caught for an apparent touchdown. A penalty wiped out the score.
Based solely on Saturday’s rotations and performance, McCauley appears to be behind Johnson and Strother in the competition.
That leaves the public pecking order looking something like Johnson, Strother and McCauley, although Marshall Faulk refusing to release a depth chart makes any definitive ranking premature.
Southern’s secrecy becoming part of Marshall Faulk’s first camp
The quarterback mystery fits a larger pattern surrounding Faulk’s first preseason camp.
Southern isn’t offering Alabama State much information.
That includes limiting media access following the scrimmage and discouraging spectators from recording what they saw.
Keeping the quarterback decision private could also force Alabama State to prepare for multiple possibilities.
Johnson offers a dual-threat element that was evident Saturday. Strother brings considerably more experience within Southern’s program. Even without knowing precisely how Faulk intends to construct his offense around either player, Alabama State potentially has more variables to consider.
There was also plenty happening around the quarterbacks Saturday.
Freshman running back Deandre Mansfield produced the scrimmage’s biggest offensive play, exploding through a hole between the right guard and tackle and outrunning the defense for a 75-yard touchdown.
Returning running back Trey Holly worked against a first-team defensive front that had success limiting him at times.
Freshman linebacker Hunter Schnakenberg provided one of the defensive highlights when he remained engaged after being blocked and leaped to deflect a pass that nearly resulted in an interception.
One issue Southern still needs to clean up
The scrimmage also exposed an issue Faulk will want corrected before Birmingham: penalties.
Southern’s offense and defense were each flagged four times, including several pre-snap infractions.
That’s particularly noteworthy after the Jaguars committed 107 penalties last season, the second-highest total in the SWAC. Southern also ranked third in the conference with 71.4 penalty yards per game.
A new coaching staff hasn’t immediately eliminated the problem.
There is still time.
Southern has nearly two weeks to clean up those mistakes — and Faulk apparently intends to use that time without giving away much about his quarterback plans.
For now, Johnson’s work with the first-team offense makes him appear to be the frontrunner. Strother remains a veteran alternative, while McCauley received an opportunity further down the rotation.
That’s about as much as Faulk appears willing to let the outside world know.
When Southern meets Alabama State on Aug. 29, everyone may find out the answer at the same time:
When Marshall Faulk sends his starting quarterback onto the field in Birmingham.