Veteran coach Shane Savoie has seen a lot during his years as St. Thomas More's offensive coordinator, but the spring football period provided a new wrinkle.
While the Cougars have had quarterback battles, there has probably never been a group of five players competing for the starting position like this year with rising senior Michael LaCour, juniors Eli Clark and Mark Guthrie and sophomores Preston Pellerin and Grayson Hemard.
"The spring reshuffled the deck," Savoie said of the race for the No. 1 quarterback. "We won't know until well into August."
A 6-foot-5 natural athlete, LaCour is an emotional leader of the team who made big plays as a receiver last season.
Another new thing is having such an experienced offensive line at a program known for its traditional senior-heavy starting lineups. Tyler Ritz and Jaden Brown head a group of four returning starters on the offensive front.
"We went into the spring focused on getting more physical," Savoie said. "We wanted to see what our offensive line could do, and how our younger defensive line would respond to it."
The veteran offensive line will try to open holes for running backs Owen Bailey and Landyn Craft, a rising senior baseball star with an impressive size and speed combination. Garrett Sullivan (5-11, 215 pounds) also brings an ideal physical package to the backfield.
"I would say we return half the starters on offense and half on defense," Savoie said.
Jared Quoyeser, a starting receiver at the beginning of last year, is back after suffering an injury. Jacques Christie and Ty Miciotto, a talented rising sophomore, will be in the mix catching balls from whoever wins the quarterback job.
UL has offered Landen Ortte (6-2, 205, Sr.), who brings linebacker size to the secondary. Walker Pugh, a linebacker who led the team in tackles, also got plenty of attention from college coaches who stopped by the Cougars' practice.
"He is who we thought he'd be," Savoie said of Ortte, who plays basketball along with LaCour. "Pugh has blown onto the (recruiting) scene."
The Cougars, who are moving up to Class 5A next season, are well-equipped for the move after facing 5A schools in the Division I playoffs the past couple of years.
STM will scrimmage Notre Dame, a 20-year tradition, at the end of the summer before taking on Breaux Bridge in the jamboree and opening the regular season with Teurlings Catholic, Jesuit and Catholic-Baton Rouge.
All eyes will be on the battle for the starting quarterback, an event that hasn't occurred recently with former blue-chip recruit Cole Bergeron locked into the spot the past two years.
"We have to be able to evaluate the one we need and make sure he's ready," Savoie said.