Spring practice kicked off at Rutgers, and all eyes are on the quarterback showdown between AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan. It might be early days, with no pads and limited time on the field, but this battle is set to be the focal point over the next five weeks as head coach Greg Schiano searches for Athan Kaliakmanis' successor.
Last season, Surace was the backup, seeing minimal action with just nine pass attempts. This led Schiano to bring in Lonergan, who comes with experience from Boston College, where he started 10 games, throwing for 2,025 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
"We evaluated a lot of quarterbacks," Schiano remarked after practice. "It's crucial because AJ, who was our No. 2, lacks experience. We want to elevate the whole room by adding talent."
The second practice is set for Saturday, but Schiano isn't rushing to name a starter. "These things tend to resolve themselves," he said. "Whether it happens this spring or during summer camp, I'm letting it unfold naturally."
Lonergan stands out as the only Rutgers QB with significant game time, having previously played at Alabama. Alongside Lonergan and Surace are redshirt freshman Sean Ashenfelder and true freshman Xavier Stearn.
"The quarterback room is in a good place," Schiano noted. "Kirk [Ciarrocca] and I have been doing this for years.
Nothing rattles us. These guys are working hard, competing for the starting spot while being great teammates.
Sean [Ashenfelder] sees this as a three-man race, and I love that spirit."
The Surace vs. Lonergan competition is pivotal, with the winner stepping into a role previously filled by Kaliakmanis, one of only three RU quarterbacks to surpass 3,000 yards in a season.
"We need a starter and a backup ready to step up if needed," Schiano explained. "That's the essence of competition.
Bringing in talent like Dylan raises the room's level. We searched thoroughly to find the right fit for our program.
AJ and Dylan are competing, but they're also collaborating. With a strong quarterback room and coach Ciarrocca, it will all come together.
We just don't know who will emerge yet."