Spring practice has been a time of change and exploration for the Elon University football team. New players have stepped up to fill the Phoenix’s starting roles and head coach Jason Swepson has been able to see progress. The culmination of the practice and experiments was the team’s annual spring game on Friday May 3 in Rhodes Stadium. The game offered coaches and fans alike the opportunity to see the battles at arguably the two of the most important positions - quarterback and running back.
?Swepson has openly discussed his three-way quarterback battle and the fact that he will not name a starter until around 10 days before the Elon's Aug. 31 opener at Georgia Tech. Each candidate - junior Mike Quinn, sophomore transfer Trevor Vasey and redshirt freshman John Loughery - took snaps during the spring game. Though newcomers Vasey and Loughery received hype, it was the veteran and former backup Quinn whose statistics stood above the others.
?Quinn finished the day 11 of 14 with 150 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Vasey went 7 of 12 but was “sacked” at least four times in the lightened game action and Loughery was 6 of 14. While Quinn stood above the other contenders, Swepson was not ready to name him the starter.
?“At lot can happen from now until the start of Georgia Tech,” Swepson said. “We’re going to keep that competition going as long as we can.”
?The third year coach was not short on his praise for Quinn, however.
“He’s been a leader,” Swepson said. “Quinn is showing more leadership skills than (former quarterback) Thomas (Wilson) did at this stage. He’s a little more confident.”
?Quinn credited growth and improvement with his success.
“I feel like I’m becoming more of a quarterback all around,” he said. “My throws, reading the defense, things like that.”
?Friday’s game was a chance for Quinn to showcase the competition that he has been experiencing in practice.
"It’s a big competition, especially between me and John Loughery,” he said. “It makes us better. I had a great spring, it’s been a great competition so far.”
?The backfield’s other main position, running back, is also up for grabs. 2013 junior Karl Bostick and sophomore Tracey Coppedge received most of the carries for Elon last season after then-freshman B.J. Bennett missed the season with an injury. After taking a redshirt, Bennett returned and scored two touchdowns on Friday night.
?“We’re all talented running backs,” Bennett said. “We’re just taking turns with it.”
?Despite not finding the end zone, Coppedge was able to reel off 37 yards on nine carries, including a 19-yard run to set up Bennett’s first score.
?Bennett believes that Elon is capable of developing a run game, something the Phoenix desperately needed in 2012.
“We’ve just got to put that hard work in,” he said. “We had a good winter, a good spring, that can lead to a good summer and prepare us for the opening game versus Georgia Tech.”
?Swepson set the bar high for Bennett by saying “he’s got a chance to be a beast.”
?The running back competition was complemented by the battle for a starting spot at wide receiver. Sophomore Andre Davis caught six passes for 82 yards and a 47-yard touchdown pass from Quinn. The performance was one of Swepson’s top two positive takeaways from the contest and he hopes the competitive desire of Davis spreads to the rest of the offense.
?With just under four months remaining until the Phoenix travels to Atlanta for the season opener, there are still starting spots up for grabs. Even though no true developments emerged from Friday’s game, the contest gave a look at the new look Phoenix offense coming fall 2013 campaign.