PROVO — After three seasons of erratic quarterback play and a revolving door at the spot, BYU enters spring football practice with no less than five players competing to start at the game’s most important position.

“I would put all of them about the same at this point,” said coach Bronco Mendenhall after Monday’s first spring practice.

Bummer.

BYU needs a starting quarterback. Get it done now.

BYU fans have ridden this roller coaster ride at quarterback for too long and know full well it’s directly contributed to the program enduring subpar seasons two of the last three years. Ideally, BYU would be able to count on one quarterback, but a combination of factors has prevented it from happening.

Cougar Tracks:

BYU Spring Football, Day 1

Under the direction of a revamped coaching staff, the BYU football team ran through its first spring practice on Monday at the Indoor Practice Facility.

For the second time in three years, Mendenhall essentially fired all of his assistants on offense. The most recent time Mendenhall took it to the extreme, replacing every offensive coach and bringing in a new staff that wants to start fresh.

For all the experience Taysom Hill got as a freshman — starting two games and nearly leading BYU to a win over Boise State on the blue turf — apparently he is no more than just one player in the mix. Hill is regaining his health after suffering a knee injury halfway through last season, but he will be limited in contact situations.

Based on seniority, new quarterbacks coach Jason Beck said last week Jason Munns would get the first snaps of spring practice — Hill got the honors, though. But it won’t be a good sign if BYU starts a fifth-year senior who has never taken a meaningful snap in a game.

There’s got to be a reason Munns, who was fourth string last season, hasn’t played in all this time. But yet, a strong showing this spring — he completed 5-of-7 passes for 53 yards during the first practice — could change his fate.

“He’ll have as great of a chance as anybody else,” Beck said. “He has some strengths as far as he’s a big kid and can really throw it.”

For the instability at quarterback the last three seasons, BYU would be well served to find a starter in spring practice over the next month. However, the new staff is willing to let the competition bleed into fall camp if necessary.

But the staff needs to be careful here. BYU can’t afford to spend most of the spring trying to divide the repetitions equally among five quarterbacks.

Offensive coordinator Robert Anae and Beck need to identify a quarterback early and focus the attention on him.

“For a quarterback to be successful he needs to get tons of reps and opportunities to do well to get in the flow of the game,” Beck said. “If you’re changing guys and every couple of games starting new guys it’s tough to build that momentum.”

During his three-minute interview after the first practice, Anae wouldn’t entertain any questions on naming a starting quarterback. Before abruptly cutting off the group interview in awkward fashion, Anae gave the canned response that every position is open on offense.

“I thought all the quarterbacks at least for the most part were moving really fast,” he said.

For the team’s sake, Hill needs to be named the starting quarterback. Even though every new coaching staff across the country always claims all spots are open, there’s no reason for BYU to continue the dog and pony show.

Mendenhall couldn’t have botched the quarterback position any worse than he did last season, but it was clear that Hill was the best among the non-seniors. As he draws closer to 100 percent healthy, Hill most likely will again prove his worth.

For his part, Hill is falling in line.

“All of us didn’t get here at a Division I university without competition,” he said, “and that’s where we thrive. We’re all used to it. We’ve all competed for jobs before.”

Recognizing Hill’s importance to the team, Mendenhall said BYU might practice more this spring without pads. He’s essentially making a concession for Hill, who probably won’t be cleared for full contact until the regular season.

The new staff’s longevity might be tied to Hill’s success. Given Mendenhall’s track record with his offensive coaches in recent seasons, their employment could depend on it.

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