Coach for a year

Central Florida QB McKenzie Milton rehabbing and coaching.

The first question for Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead after the Bulldogs’ initial preseason practice was a tongue- in- cheek inquiry about whether the much- anticipated quarterback battle had been settled after just one session. The second- year coach grinned and played along.

“Right after stretch we picked one,” Moorhead quipped.

If only it were that easy. The main story of Mississippi State’s preseason camp is the two- man quarterback competition between the 2018 backup, Keytaon Thompson, and Penn State transfer Tommy Stevens.

The winner will be expected to improve the Bulldogs passing offense, which was inconsistent on good days and awful on the bad ones last season.

If Moorhead has identified a leader in the QB race, he’s not letting anyone know. Like most coaches, he would like to know his starter sooner than later, but won’t rush the decision.

Thompson ( 6 feet 4, 225pounds) moments of promise as the backup to Nick Fitzgerald over the past two seasons. He threw for 458 yards last season, six touchdowns and just one interception while also running for 226 yards and four touchdowns.

But a career completion percentage of less than 50 percent is a problem. Moorhead has made it known in the past that he would like that number up in the 60s.

Stevens ( 6- 5, 236) was a versatile backup for the Nittany Lions the past three seasons, playing behind Trace McSorley. The graduate transfer has thrown for 304 yards in his career, including four touchdowns while completing 58.5 percent of his throws.

He also has run for 506 career yards and eight touchdowns and even caught 14 passes.

Moorhead was the offensive coordinator at Penn State before arriving at Mississippi State and therefore knew Stevens. When the quarterback decided to transfer, Starkville was a natural fit since he already had broad knowledge of Moorhead’s offense.

Stevens said some of the terminology is different than at Penn State, but his comfort with Moorhead makes it a better situation than a normal transfer might experience.

Georgia Tech

Former Central Michigan offensive coordinator Chris Ostrowsky joined new Georgia Tech coach Gofff Collins’ staff as a senior offensive adviser. Ostrowsky coached at Central Michigan the past two seasons after five seasons as Northern Michigan’s coach.