The last time David Cutcliffe had three starting quarterbacks, he suffered his only losing season in his five-year tenure at Ole Miss and was fired after a 4-7 record in 2004.
But this year, Cutcliffe isn't looking for Eli Manning's replacement, as he was then. Now, he has two veteran quarterbacks who have started numerous games and an incoming freshman who was ranked the 10th best signal-caller in the country by scout.com.
With junior Thaddeus Lewis (23 starts), redshirt junior Zack Asack (six) and freshman Sean Renfree lining up behind center, Cutcliffe seems to have a difficult, if not fortunate, task in choosing a starting quarterback. The first-year head coach, however, has made it clear who the starter is-at least for the time being.
"Thad Lewis is the number one guy and Zack Asack's currently number two," Cutcliffe said in June.
It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, though, for any of those three guys to be the starter by October-or by Aug. 30, Duke's opening game against James Madison.
Lewis has the most impressive credentials as the incumbent quarterback, averaging 202.5 passing yards per game, fourth-best in the ACC. He is far more advanced than his competitors in terms of on-field production, and the junior would have it no other way.
"I'd hope my play could speak for itself," Lewis said. "I'm more of a lead-by-example guy. I bring a different swagger to the team."
That swagger and strong play led to 21 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions, the best ratio of any Duke quarterback in the past several years. Lewis, however, hit a rough patch in spring training as he struggled to learn Cutcliffe's new offense, Lewis' third in three seasons.
"Going into a new system, you can't just go out there and play because you don't know anything," Lewis said. "But it boosts your morale and confidence learning it."
Lewis has since rebounded in "tremendous form," Cutcliffe said.
Asack is something of a wild card. Although he has never had tremendous success throwing the ball, his mobility provides an unpredictable element for Cutcliffe's offense. With Lewis as the established starter for now, Asack sees himself as a mentor for younger players.
"I can help them through the process with the coaches and what to expect," Asack said. "Any off-field issues they might have, they can come to me. I feel like the dad in the group."
He should know. After he was assumed to be Duke's quarterback in 2006, he was suspended for plagiarism and was forced to miss an entire season. But just because he lost the starting job doesn't mean he has given up fighting for it.
"We're still going to be competing in the fall," Asack said. "It's the coaches' decision, but I think [Cutcliffe] wants to incorporate both of us in various schemes."
And then there's Renfree, who has developed a buzz even before standing on the sideline.
In one highlight video, Renfree shows off his 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed by taking the snap directly under center and sprinting straight ahead, splitting the safeties for an easy touchdown. Renfree, who also displayed his toughness by playing the last seven games of his senior season with a broken foot, participated in the Elite 11 quarterback camp, which has featured current NFL starters Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Vince Young.
Renfree will likely begin the season third on the depth chart behind Lewis and Asack, Cutcliffe said.
Cutcliffe does not expect to redshirt the four-star recruit, saying he has about a month of training camp to show the coaching staff what he can do.
So what's a coach to do with three talented players and one spot on the field? If you're Cutcliffe, you think beyond the normal setup.
"We might have a wrinkle or two," Cutcliffe said. "One of the things you might see at quarterback is [Lewis and Asack] in the game at the same time."
Not even the quarterbacks know how such a scenario would work.
"I really have no idea what Coach Cutcliffe has up his sleeve, but I'm sure it'll be interesting," Asack said.
"My guess is as good as yours," Lewis said. "No one really knows what to anticipate."
One thing should be certain: Cutcliffe will not get the axe again for having three capable quarterbacks on the roster.
"When one [of the Ole Miss quarterbacks] was finally good, we settled in," Cutcliffe said. "I don't anticipate that being the case here. We're good at quarterback."
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