Southern football coach Dawson Odums confirmed that the Jaguars will play two quarterbacks.
But he hasn’t cemented who will start against Texas Southern in two weeks.
The decision comes days after longtime starter Ladarius Skelton was benched after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the Jaguars’ shocking 33-30 loss versus Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
Skelton was replaced by John Lampley, who went 22-of-37 for 238 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Lampley, a redshirt junior, has thrown for 1,121 yards and 13 touchdowns in 18 career games at Southern.
Odums was not pleased with Skelton’s actions, saying they were “out of character” for the respected reshirt senior.
“You’re a quarterback, you play for the Jags,” he said during the weekly SWAC coaches media availability. “One thing we pride ourselves on is composure under pressure. He wasn’t the only one that got out of composure.”
Also read: Arkansas-Pine Bluff shocks Southern, wins season opener 33-30
Odums said he and Skelton met Sunday to discuss the situation and indicated that the quarterback understood the benching and would be ready to go the next time out.
The plan now for Southern is to prepare both quarterbacks to share reps — something Odums said during spring practice he would do.
“We’re probably going to see both. I don’t know if it will be John starting and then Ladarius, or Ladarius starting and then John,” he said. “But both guys probably will play.”
“It will be beneficial to us, lessen the load. Both guys have a unique skill set. We’ll evaluate on a week-to-week basis and make a decision from it.”