With only two weeks before the season opener, the offense is confident in Jeremy Johnson and Nick Marshall and both Johnson and Marshall are confident and ready to lead the team at quarterback.
Head coach Gus Malzahn has already announced that Marshall will not get the starting nod against Arkansas on Aug. 30. Since then Marshall has taken responsibility and put the work in to earn back the team's respect, according to senior tight end C.J. Uzomah.
"He's been tremendous," Uzomah said. "I think aside from Reese (Dismukes) who has been a four-year starter in this league and a huge leader on our team, I think that Nick is right next to him."
Marshall also has become much more vocal this fall and it has shown during practice and after practices.
"After practice we needed an extra pace period, which is the worst thing," Uzomah said. "And he said, 'yeah, we need another pace period, let's do two.' That just shows his drive and willingness to win."
Marshall knows how important those pace periods are to their hurry-up no huddle offense.
"The pace is what our edge is," Uzomah said. "That's what we thrive on. I think as far as a leadership standpoint, (Marshall) is back to where we want him to be."
Marshall has also been taking advantage of the free time before classes begin by getting extra reps in with the receivers and other quarterbacks outside of practices.
"He texts everyone," Uzomah said. "He has a group message where he'll text the receivers letting us know that we need to get out there and throw."
Johnson has also grown into more of a leadership role before his sophomore season.
"(Johnson) knows that we trust him," Uzomah said. "He knows where we're going to be. We know that he's going to put the ball where it needs to be. His connection with receivers has boosted his confidence tremendously."
Marshall isn't the only quarterback who has been speaking up at fall practices.
"If we drop a ball Jeremy will get on us to do it again and run the same play," Uzomah said. "He wants to make sure that we're clicking."
Although Johnson has become more vocal this year, Uzomah is even more impressed with his skills and abilities at quarterback.
"I think he could start anywhere else in the SEC," Uzomah said. "That's no disrespect to any other SEC team, that's just how we feel about him. We have all the confidence in the world in him."
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