TAMPA — All three of Jesuit’s starting quarterback candidates made a splash on Day One, if only by planting their feet on the waterlogged Alumni Field synthetic turf.
Clearer skies must prevail before offensive coordinator Chris Taylor gets a read on who his guy will be in 2013, but for now, 6-foot-2 rising senior Vincent Testaverde will get the initial first-team snaps. In limited action last fall, Testaverde threw for 152 yards (16-for-35), four picks and a TD.
His competition: 6-2 classmate Trent Wessel and rising junior Wesley Eveld, whose older brothers — Bobby and Tommy — are former Tigers starters. Whomever wins the job will be Jesuit’s fifth opening-day starter in as many years.
“They all have their qualities,” Taylor said. “Vincent’s most knowledgeable. Right now he’s comfortable doing what he’s doing and he’s got more experience. Wesley’s a little taller and he’s kind of a prototype of a dropback guy. And the Wessel kid may be a little faster.
“They’re good friends, they work together. It couldn’t be any better than that.”
By the numbers
A numerical snapshot of the first formal Jesuit football practice of the Matt Thompson era
2 Players — DE Vincent Jackson and DB James Peek — who remain from offensive coordinator Chris Taylor’s previous stint (2010) in the same capacity
3 Quarterbacks who will vie for the starting job. Incumbent Vincent Testaverde gets the first snaps, Taylor said
4 Reporters attending
practice
28 Minutes the Tigers were on Alumni Field before lightning forced them inside
70 Approximate number of players out for Day One. Thompson said a handful more will join the team once they get physicals
Alonso’s Davis expected to miss season
Before spring practices even started at Alonso, the Ravens suffered a loss that will almost certainly be felt into the fall.
Receiver and defensive back Derius Davis, a rising senior, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing last week with defending 7-on-7 national champion Team Tampa. Davis, who hobbled around practice Wednesday on crutches, said doctors told him he could be out for the year.
“But I’m planning for the start of the season,” Davis said. “I’m already doing more than what most would expect.”
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Davis seemed primed for a big senior season after catching 14 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns and tallying 29 tackles and one interception as a junior. Ravens coach Brian Emanuel said he was mostly disappointed for Davis, who was starting to earn the attention of college programs.
“It’s just heartbreaking to see something like that happen to him,” Emanuel said. “I know he will rehab and work harder than anybody I know. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a major blow.”
Losing Davis during 7-on-7 season, which generally operates outside the purview of many high school coaches, was particularly troubling to Emanuel.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially when he’s not competing with his team,” Emanuel said. “He’s a kid who’s on the cusp of getting major-college looks. It’s tough and you start questioning whether it’s all worth it.”
Tweet of the day
“Nothing like practicing in the gym with helmets on … #FloridaProblems #springfootball”
@GaitherFootball, neatly summing up the mood of teams around the county as storms threw a, um, wet blanket on the first day of spring football
Compiled by staff writers Joel Anderson and Joey Knight.