What we saw at Jacksonville State football's Wednesday practice, who's leading the QB competition

Jacksonville State football and coach Rich Rodriguez started their third week of spring camp with a practice on Wednesday.

It was another fast paced practice that saw all six quarterbacks receive plenty of opportunities in an open competition of who will become the starter. Overall though, it was the defense who made the bigger plays time in and time out on Wednesday.

Here's a few takeaways from Wednesday's practice:

Logan Smothers goes non-contact but still leads group

Like the first day of practice, it was Smothers leading most of the drills off but this time he was in a blue colored non-contact jersey. After practice Rodriguez told media that it was out of caution and more quarterbacks would soon be sporting the blue jerseys. Smothers looked to be holding up fine, after a shoulder injury impacted him for parts of last season.

It was still Zion Turner, Ashton Frye and Caden Creel behind him and they all looked strong at times. Even with it looking like Smothers might take this competition, or at least the pole position into summer, it’ll be at least into fall before a starter is confirmed.

Rodriguez also formally announced Griffin Brewster as a transfer quarterback that is in the competition to become the starter. Furman transfer Tyler Huff will join the team in the summer, most likely completing the room.

Starting defensive lineup emerging

We knew some guys would be with the starting defensive unit, such as Chris Hardin Jr, J-Rock Swain and Larry Worth but other starters are starting to emerge, including Ricky Samuel, Ky’Won McCray and Ole Miss transfer Reginald Hughes.

Other guys are stepping into more full time roles like Kekura Tarnue, Geimere Latimer and Marco Baker especially with the Gamecocks are in what appears to be their nickel package.

Secondary has a day

Even with Jax State's go, go, go approach on offense bleeding into the team drills the secondary was able to have a day. Latimer and Caí Mayowa came away with impressive interceptions in team drills that sent defensive back coach Brandon Napoleon off his scooter and celebrating. When the secondary needed a stop they were able to get one most of the time, with either an interception or incomplete pass. The secondary stood out on a day where the defense shined.

Could tight ends be deepest position?

While quarterbacks could end up being five or six guys deep, tight ends might be the deepest position on the team, with plenty of guys receiving reps with Sean Brown out. Brown is out with a shoulder injury but could come back if it was necessary. Other guys have stepped up in his place such as Jacob Barrick, Pearson Baldwin and Cole Fuller, all have made plays when called upon this spring, backing up what Rodriguez believes about his tight end room.

"(Sean Brown) a proven guy, I'm really excited for him and Jacob Barrick. We've got a couple, Cole Fuller has a good spring. Pearson (Baldwin) is having a great spring, he's probably one of the better athletes on our team. Our tight end spot could be one of the deepest on the team," Rodriguez said.

Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: What we saw at Jacksonville State football's Wednesday practice, who's leading the QB competition