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5 things to watch for in 2024 UNI football spring game
Aidan Dunne and Jaxon Dailey are the front-runners to be UNI’s starting quarterback in the fall
Cole Bair
Apr. 18, 2024 11:58 am
CEDAR FALLS — It sounds like Northern Iowa football fans will be treated to something closely resembling an actual game Friday night at the UNI-Dome.
For the first time since the 2018 spring game, the Panthers will have officials overseeing their intrasquad scrimmage.
“We want to play some type of game,” UNI Coach Mark Farley said. “We need to learn and grow from working together.”
With a number of transfers and graduations since the 2023 season ended, there’s plenty to watch Friday night. Here are five things in particular to be on the lookout for:
1. Optimized operations
An indicator that this year’s spring game will closely resemble an actual game was Farley’s remarks this week of how important it will be to have his six new assistant coaches put in a game-like scenario to see how much, or little, work is needed on their game-day operations as a staff.
Seeing how quickly play calls get in to the quarterback, how seamlessly UNI’s offense gets to the line of scrimmage and how well plays are executed will be indicative of how much work Farley’s staff may still need with one another.
Obvious blown assignments and how coaches are behaving in their conversations with players in-game also will be important to watch when it comes to evaluating where a largely rebuilt staff is in its level of operation.
2. Quarterback competition
Farley revealed former Dubuque Hempstead standout Aidan Dunne and former Southeast Polk standout — and Arkansas State transfer — Jaxon Dailey are the front-runners to be the Panthers’ starter in the fall.
The spring game is a small, imperfect glimpse of what’s been a much larger body of work from the duo the past three weeks, but it’s not unfair to come away from one with an informed opinion on who looks best running the offense.
3. Go-to wide receiver
Hard to develop a go-to wide receiver while a quarterback competition is going on, but it’s not impossible.
Sergio Morancy and Jaiden Ellis-Lahey headline a talented group where it’s possible for someone further down the depth chart to emerge as one of the two quarterbacks solidifies himself as the starter.
If anyone consistently gets open in Friday night’s game — going against the same defense they’ve faced the past three weeks — it’d be an encouraging sign of a player who can give a pass-first, air-raid offense the reliable receiver it requires.
4. Secondary starters
Among the most encouraging things Farley pointed out from spring practices was progress made in a secondary that had to be almost completely rebuilt after graduations and transfers.
Who starts the spring game and who is the first off the bench will set the table for what’s sure to be an ongoing competition into fall camp.
5. O-line alignment
Jared Penning, Tristan Roper, Josh Volk and Keean Kamerling are four likely starters for the Panthers’ 2024 offensive line.
However, a number of other linemen have game experience, and longtime offensive line coach Rick Nelson never hesitates to reshuffle positions to get the best five guys on the field.
Who starts and where, and how the line reshuffles once reserves begin to come in will all be telling about how the depth chart has shaken out this spring.