BEAUMONT, Texas – Mother Nature has been busy altering the 2016 Lamar University Spring Camp Schedule. Several workouts were changed the opening week of camp, and the threat of rain has forced the same situation this week as the Cardinals will hold a workout at Provost Umphrey Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday, a switch from the original schedule that had the practice slated for Friday at 4:30 p.m.
 
The Thursday workout will wrap up the third week of camp for the Cardinals, and will be the team's ninth of 16 schedule spring practices. The Cards close camp with the Annual Crawfish Bowl on April 16^th.
 
One of the questions surrounding the Cardinals entering the spring has been the health of quarterback Carson Earp. Locked in a battle with then senior Joe Minden at this time last season, the coaching staff elected to go with a two-quarterback system to start the 2015 campaign, but Earp had edged his way into the starting lineup for three of the team's first four games. Right when it appeared he was laying claim to the starting role outright Earp suffered an injury late in the game at Southeastern Louisiana and was never 100 percent after that.
 
Even prior to Earp's injury, Big Red's quarterback situation took a hit before the season started. Transfer Blake McKenzie flew under the radar but began to turn some heads during fall scrimmages. Right at the moment when it appeared that he had worked himself into another option for the starting job, he got hurt and was out for the season less than a week prior to the 2015 season opener.
 
The few workouts that LU has had during camp while dancing around Mother Nature's schedule has proven to the coaches that the Cardinals are deep at the quarterback position should a similar situation arise in 2016.
 
"I think one thing we've seen from them is that we have a lot of depth at that position," said LU head coach Ray Woodard. "We have four guys that can play the position. I like where our quarterback position is at."
 
Prior to his injury, Earp completed nearly 54 percent of his passes for 576 yards and seven touchdowns. He also proved an ability to make plays with his feet, carrying the ball 32 times for 320 yards and two scores.
 
If Earp is back to the same form by the start of the 2016 campaign, there will be a four-way battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. The battle will consist McKenzie, sophomore Brett Cox and 2016 newcomers Adam Morse and Clayton Turner.
 
The same questions that surround Earp also can be asked of McKenzie. After missing all of last season, there was probably no one more excited than McKenzie to suit up for camp. If he can pick up where he left off last fall he would have the inside track for the No. 2 spot. To make the battle that more interesting the Cardinals added one of the state's top prep quarterbacks to go along with an athletic transfer from Miami (Clayton).
 
A local product from Port Neches-Groves, Morse was an offensive district MVP following a season that saw him pass for 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns. A two-time Willie Ray Smith Award finalist, Morse holds the school's single-season record for touchdown passes and single-game record for passing yards.
 
While Morse signed with LU out of high school, Turner went to Miami following a stint in the junior college ranks. The Hurricanes wanted to utilize Turner's speed and athleticism at receiver, but a quarterback at heart Turner elected to transfer LU to be a signal caller. In addition to his speed, Turner also brings good size to the position at 6-4, 210 pounds.
 
Cox will also be another player in the mix. One of the big names in the 2015 signing class, he now has a full year of experience at the collegiate level under his belt, as well as working with second-year offensive coordinator Chuck Langston.
 
The Cardinals have scrimmages slated for Friday, April 8 (4:30 p.m.) and the Crawfish Bowl Saturday April 16^th (noon). There will be several events surrounding the annual Crawfish Bowl that fans are invited to come enjoy. Admission to the game is free, along with free tailgating. There will be a crawfish cook off beginning at 9 a.m. which will be judged by local celebrities. JAG will be performing live in concert which will also begin at 9 a.m.
 
There will be entertainment for the kids as well. The youngsters can compete in the kid's crawfish races and hangout with Big Red and Lu. Fans will receive free T-shirts while supplies last.
 
-LU CARDINALS-