Tennessee State's spring game will be a rare offseason test of the quarterbacks
Not only will the quarterbacks be live — meaning they can be hit — during today's scrimmage, they'll be expected to pump life into the offense.
The candidates hoping to replace Antonio Heffner will be expected to move the offense against the best defense in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Kickoff is 2 p.m. at Hale Stadium.
"We've got practically everybody back on defense and we lost practically everybody on offense,'' Coach James Webster said. "We're rebuilding the offense so the defense has had a big advantage this spring. But still, I'd like to see the guys playing quarterback take the offense down the field and put the ball in the end zone."
Dominic Grooms, who started when Heffner was injured last season and led the Tigers to a 41-14 win over Tennessee Tech, will get the first chance.
"Grooms is older and more experienced,'' Webster said. "He's ahead of the others because he's shown a better understanding for what it is that we want to get done."
A transfer from Missouri in 2008, Grooms completed 26-of-35 passes for 236 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last season. He also rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
The quarterback for the other team will be backup Calvin McNairl, who redshirted last season but saw lots of playing time as a freshman two years ago.
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