Boulder – Cody Hawkins is in the rearview mirror. Brian White and Bernard Jackson know that.
As juniors, they aren’t getting any younger. White and Jackson know that, too.
This, then, is put up or shut up time.
Position battles are almost always fierce, but when practice for Colorado begins Monday, the competition for starting quarterback will have a different type of twist to it. It will have a feel of finality.
The loser of this contest is likely staring at the end of his career as a possible starter.
Injuries happen. On-field struggles happen. Both can lead to a second opportunity, but neither White nor Jackson wants to take that chance. If the winner stays healthy and plays well, then eligibility runs out on both after the 2007 season, and the coach’s son, a freshman from Boise, Idaho, is next up.
“I’ve got to come out with a bang, at least,” Jackson said. “I’ve got to give them something to think about in terms of this Bernard guy.”
Said White: “I’ve sat around for three years. I sat behind Joel (Klatt) for a couple of years. I view this as a great opportunity for me to come and put my stamp on the program, show people why I was recruited to come here.”
They aren’t the only two in the race to be the first starting quarterback of the Dan Hawkins era at CU. Senior James Cox will have something to say as well.
But Jackson and White are the clear front-runners, with the experience of spring football under their belts. Cox missed the spring with a wrist injury, putting him behind the other two on the depth chart.
Neither White nor Jackson admits to extra pressure. Jackson goes so far as to call it a “friendly battle.”
But make no mistake, the stakes are high. Each decision, each drive and each mistake holds a more meaningful cost than usual.
“What you hope is somebody steps up and takes it,” CU offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”
Helfrich said there hasn’t been and likely won’t be a drop-dead date set for naming a starter, only that the staff hopes a player emerges “sooner rather than later.”
“You’d prefer it to happen in the first couple of weeks,” Helfrich said. “It allows you to get on the same page with receivers and do more things with each guy and build into a game-plan situation, where you kind of know what you have, and you at least have some background of those guys working together.”
Whereas Cox has significant game experience to draw on, there isn’t much on-field experience for White and Jackson to refer to. White has played in just two regular-season games with one completion for 10 yards. He did, however, fill in effectively in the Champs Sports Bowl last season, going 7-of-12 for 81 yards and a touchdown in nine minutes of fourth-quarter relief for a struggling Cox.
Jackson has seen more time as a multiuse player than specifically at quarterback. Over the past two seasons, he has spent time at wide receiver, running back, punt returner and kick returner. His snaps at quarterback have been more gimmicky than anything else.
Both, however, know what will win them the job.
“Just being consistent,” Jackson said. “Executing plays, knowing where to go with the ball, all that good stuff. If I can do that, hopefully that will let them know that I’m for real.”
Said White: “I would say just coming to camp and being as sharp as I possibly can. Just make sure that I can go out there and make plays for the offense. From the get-go it’s going to be who leads the offense, who can drive the ball downfield, and who can put the ball in the end zone. Whatever quarterback does that is going to have the best chance at becoming the starter.”
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
Preseason issues
The biggest issues Colorado coaches are looking to address heading into preseason camp:
Quarterback: Two and maybe three are in the running for the spotlighted position in coach Dan Hawkins’ offense.
Wide receiver: Injuries hurt spring evaluation of this position. The staff is in search of a go-to playmaker.
Punter: Buffs must replace Ray Guy Award runner-up John Torp.
Attitude: The Buffs aren’t softies, but they aren’t as tough as Hawkins wants going into the season.
CHRIS DEMPSEY
Schedule
All practices are open to the public. Practice fields are just north of the Dal Ward Athletic Center, off Folsom Street.
Monday-Thursday: Two practices per day. Veterans at 9:45 a.m. and newcomers at 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Media Day
Friday: One practice, beginning at 4 p.m. (First day in full pads)
Saturday-Aug. 24: Generally two practices. Morning sessions starting at 9 a.m., except Aug. 14 and 19, which start at 11 a.m. Afternoon sessions start at 4 p.m.
