Albany State eyeing two-QB system?

ALBANY — It’s shaping up to be a two-headed monster under center for the Albany State football team this year.

For now, at least.

The two front-runners for the open spot under center — transfer Stanley Jennings and returning senior Wayne Campbell Jr. — are neck-and-neck.

“I know the coaches like a one-QB system. I would (prefer that) also, but you want that quarterback to take the bull by the horns and just go and make the offense his,” head coach Mike White said. “I think right now, you’re still looking at a two-headed quarterback system.”

White then added: “That’s what we’re headed. Unless one of them takes control Saturday (against Kentucky State), that’s (where we’ll be).”

And why not? Both bring different things to the table.

“(Stanley) runs the ball real good and throws the ball real well,” quarterbacks coach Uyl Joyner said. “Wayne is more of a pocket guy, while Stanley is more of an athletic quarterback.”

Campbell (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) returns from last year, so he brings some leadership qualities to the table.

“(The team) is real comfortable (with me),” Campbell said. “It helped that I played last year a little. I was practicing all the time. I was able to watch and learn behind A.J.

“He came in and did a good job for us last year. That was always very helpful. Just like Aaron Rodgers sat behind Brett Favre (for the Green Bay Packers). All those situations like that help you learn, and learn mentally. That’s the biggest thing.”

Jennings on the other hand, who was an All-Star game MVP during his time at Southwest Mississippi Community College, can run the 40 in 4.5 seconds and throw the ball 60 yards on one knee.

“I’m playing like I have something to prove,” said Jennings, who has been playing at quarterback since he was 7. “I had so many chances to go D-1, but (it didn’t work out).”

It worked out for the Rams, who are in a pleasant situation with two talented quarterbacks.

“They’re both doing a good job.,” starting center Michael Mavromichalis said. “We have a (couple) quarterbacks fighting for that position, but I think (both) can get the job done. So whoever comes out on top, it will benefit the team.”

White said the team will decide today who will start Saturday, but it could change from game to game.

“I pretty much think that the battle will go on for a while,” White said. “I think you’ll see both of them Saturday. They’re just not separating themselves enough with me.”

JUAN IS GONE: Kicker Juan Bongarra’s leg was something special.

The guy could kick the ball at least 70 yards and make 60-yard field goals in practice.

But now that he’s graduated and gone on to play for the Albany Panthers, the Rams will simply have to find someone else.

“That was the difference with him, his strong leg,” receivers/special teams coach Kenyan Conner said. “With a little more work here, though, they can be as accurate as Juan was.”

The kicker race is also a two-man competition, as Brandon Hamilton and Tory Torstenson are the ones vying for the spot.

“The older kid, Tory, is a little more accurate right now, but the younger kid has a stronger leg,” Conner said. “If we can get some accuracy with a strong leg, though, we’ll have something.”