Tulsa QB's Battle For Top Spot At Spring Game

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- It's a quarterback battle between the back-up, the blue-chipper and the Texas transfer.

"We just came out - not time to think, you know not worrying about going out there and making mistakes and just having fun," said TU quarterback Jacob Bower. "I think our offense did a good job."

Jacob Bower, Shavodrick Beaver and G.J. Kinne showed their stuff at Tulsa's Spring game.  Beaver's the highly touted true freshman while Kinne was a top Texas high school quarterback and a former Longhorn. But Bower's the only one who can boast game experience, serving as David Johnson's back-up last season.

"I know the protections and plays better than them and I've been able to help them out - obviously the experience and knowledge helps," Bower said.

Kinne attempted the most passes of the three, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but he also tossed two interceptions.

"I was just trying to go out there and make some plays and sometimes when you try to make plays,  you make bad plays," Kinne said.

"I try to create a little stress on them too," Graham said. "I tell them that if an old fat man can rattle them, they're not ready to play in front of 90,000 fans in Norman."

And TU coach Todd Graham says he's won't be ready to name a starter until this fall. He gave the spring game edge to Beaver's 210 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.

"The biggest thing isn't going to be who the best athlete is or who throws the ball the best," Graham said. "It's going to be the one who manages the game and the ones that the players will follow and we can trust that they execute what they're coached to do."

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