Denham Springs quarterback Andre Adams felt a calling to join the Yellow Jackets.
After a year at Prairieville High School, Adams joined Denham Springs, where he backed up former All-Metro MVP Da'Jean Golmond last year.
Now, the junior enters a quarterback battle with sophomore Devin Kinchen, and Adams is in the mix to guide a young Denham Springs football team that graduated 41 seniors.
"It was like something on my chest," Adams said. "I wanted to come here and take the spot."
Denham Springs coach Brett Beard has liked the competition so far between Adams and Kinchen as they look to take over a team that went 8-3 last season.
"I love the battle," Beard said. "(They are) two dudes we think could be really good high school quarterbacks for us, and they have a chance to play beyond."
Beard said the key will be how they handle the competition.
"I'm really excited to watch them just go blow for blow and just keep getting after each other," Beard said. "At the end, iron sharpens iron, and that's how we go about business."
Both quarterbacks have their strengths. Beard said Kinchen has a better grasp of the offensive scheme, while Adams possesses better physical attributes including a stronger arm.
"That's the two different worlds right there," Beard said. "One's got a better understanding of the offense, and one's got a better arm, can make some of the throws."
On Wednesday, Adams fired passes in 7-on-7 games against Dutchtown and Episcopal. He hopes to continue honing his ability to understand the offense and take what the defense gives him.
He understands the transition to a new playbook will take time.
"I'm going to be honest, it was hard," Adams said. "It was a lot to remember, but once you keep going over it by yourself at home, just keep learning, you're going to adjust to the team."
While the team graduated several top skill players, Denham Springs returns some key receivers.
"Trey Seals is back, who was a huge piece of our success last year," Beard said, "and just a dude that's just honing in on his game and getting better every day."
The team also features the 6-foot-4 Aiden Davis, who could be a matchup problem for defenses. Another receiving threat is junior Jaylen Williams.
"He's a dude that we can get a lot of mismatches up, and we've just got to get him the ball," Beard said of Williams. "He's an electric, explosive athlete that has a chance to take the top off. He definitely has the makeup and the ability to be really scary."
Players like Seals have stayed after practices to work with the quarterbacks to help build chemistry.
With another offseason under his belt, Adams' hunger for a chance to play and lead his team to a state championship grows.
"I just want to go to the (state) championship (game)," Adams said. "A lot of people got their heads down on us, saying we can't do it, but I feel like we can do it."
Before he can do that, he has to win a competitive position battle.
"It's going to come down to two dudes battling it out, the ones that are leading drives and are running the offense and doing the things we ask him to do," Beard said. "That's going to be the guy that wins the job."