This week will determine what couldn’t be determined in spring practice, summer workouts and fall camp.

At some point UNO will have to name a starting quarterback for its season opener against the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

“We’re still a little uncertain,” UNO coach Pat Behrns said. “We thought we were a little further along, but now it may end up being a game-time decision.”

Behrns said both third-year sophomore John Teigland and fourth-year junior Jon Daniels have played well enough that he’s comfortable with whomever he chooses. Both will play in the 6 p.m. game at Caniglia Field, Behrns said.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha jumped from No. 15 to No. 12 in the Division II coaches’ poll after being idle last weekend. UNK had been No. 13, but the Lopers dropped out after a season-opening overtime loss to Wayne State in Kearney.

Behrns said it’s hard to say exactly how much and when the quarterbacks will play. “We’re just trying to figure out who the starter is,” he said, “because we can’t have them both out there at the same time.”

Behrns said he thought late last week that he might have been leaning toward Teigland, who started one game last year when Greg Wunderlich was injured. Teigland had served all season as the backup quarterback.

Daniels has gone through two spring practices with the Mavericks, but he sat out last season after surgery.

“It’s not that we’re disappointed with Teigland. I’m just not sure we’re ready to make a choice yet,” Behrns said. “Maybe we’ll feel different about it (Tuesday).”

Quarterback might have seemed like UNO’s biggest question mark heading into the season, but that may have changed, Behrns said.

“This is probably the most unusual week before a game as we’ve had in a long time,” Behrns said. “And they’re issues that we know are going to be resolved, but they aren’t at this point.

“We’re sorting through some injury issues and some clearinghouse issues.”

Behrns declined to identify the true freshmen trying to gain NCAA clearance to play Saturday.

He said UNO is still waiting for confirmation of the eligibility of transfer offensive lineman James Davis from Ohio University.

Starting defensive end Nate Wissink (knee) has missed practice time, as have two key backups in tight end Austin Wells (ankle) and wide receiver Tyler Oberembt (knee).

But chief among UNO’s injury concerns are hamstring ailments to Levi Terrell and Bryce Hawthorne, its top two tailbacks. They rushed for a combined 1,689 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

True freshman James Franklin of Olathe, Kan., got early looks with the higher units in fall camp, and now Jeff Seybold, a Lincoln Southwest graduate, has impressed, too.

Senior Duane Bowen is considered No. 3 behind Terrell and Hawthorne.

“The guy who had an unbelievable scrimmage (Saturday) was the Seybold kid,” Behrns said. “So he and James Franklin are in the mix.

“I like who we have there, but I don’t like the uncertainty.”

Behrns said he hopes that all of the uncertainty doesn’t affect UNO’s preparation.

“You always try to minimize distractions this week,” he said. “And we’re trying to practice and concentrate on Kearney instead of practicing and concentrating on eligibility and clearinghouse issues.”

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com

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