Decisions, decisions: Charlotte 49ers quarterbacks Q&A

HERBERT L. WHITE | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Charlotte quarterbacks Connor Harrell, Grayson Loftis and Zach Wilcke all have the same goal: win the starting job ahead of the season opener against Appalachian State.

Charlotte has yet to announce who the 49ers’ starting quarterback is.

Coach Tim Albin said at American Conference media day that he and the staff are still working diligently to come to a decision on who the field general was going to be. North Carolina transfer Connor Harrell, Duke transfer Grayson Loftis and junior college transfer Zach Wilcke are all options.

So, while Albin is mulling it over, The Post caught up with all three potential starters for a Q&A session. Answers are edited for brevity and clarity. 

CP: What has the competition been like within the quarterback room and how have you each learned from one another?

ZW: It’s been great. I feel like we all have different strengths. We all have different things that we need to work on and just support each other, know each other’s roles and compete with one another every day to get better.

GL: I think like Zach said, being able to push each other has been good for all of us. We all have various strengths and weaknesses, and I think our games can kind of marry up a little bit. We can all learn from each other, and I think we are all three developing a special bond and friendship through all of this.

CH: We all go through some of the same things. We’re all getting coached up and nobody else in the building is experiencing it quite the same way. So, we’ve got to be close and use other people’s successes or failures to learn. We are all just learning from each other and trying to be the best we can be.

CP: All three of you are transfers, so what has Albin and his staff instilled in you to drive home what they want the culture of Charlotte football to look like?

ZW: I think the biggest thing they have talked about is consistency on both sides of the ball. You can’t win a lot of football games with a lot of turnovers. You have to have good field position to score points. You don’t necessarily have to but stats prove that teams that start in better field position score more points on average. So, TFC has been a big motto. That is turnovers, possession and Charlotte doesn’t beat Charlotte. That is something they have preached a lot.

GL: I think all the coaches are pushing us really hard to bring our best stuff every day. It creates a fun and competitive environment, and I think as a football player you want that type of environment. 

CH: I think overall, just taking care of the little things. You know, coach [Albin] shows us little details. ‘Hey, this block is made. This puts us in a better position. This receiver does this differently and results in an explosive play.’ So, I think that is echoed all around the team, on defense and special teams that the little things make a big difference.

CP: Who are some of your favorite playmakers, whether that be receivers, running backs or tight ends?

ZW: I would say our tight end room. We have a bunch of good tight ends, but we have three older guys that are gonna play, and they all have different skill sets. They all do a good job in the run game, in the pass game, and I feel like with the receivers and running backs, we have so many weapons.

GL: I think one thing that's been neat to see through spring ball and the start of fall camp is the group grow as a whole. I think if we were sitting here and talk about everybody who's made a play we would be here for a really long time, but to see the group grow on the perimeter and see the group up front really grow together as well, and everybody just kind of get comfortable in this system and really start trying to commit to the details, becoming consistent as a group, has been fun to watch.

CH: Let me give a shout out to Derrick Eley [freshman wide receiver from Hopewell high school in Huntersville]. I just feel like every time he runs a route he wins. He is a great receiver, great dude overall and I am just really excited to see him grow.

CP: There is an old saying that the run game opens up the pass game; how have the running backs been so far and what have you three seen from that group that you liked?

CH: I've been really impressed by how all those guys can run and get yards but knowing where to be in pass protection. That is something that's not just a given with a running back. And I think all of them have done a really good job in fall camp. ‘Hey, I know I got this guy. I know I got this guy,’ like we're not having to talk to them a bunch. So, I really appreciate every running back in the room.

ZW: We have definitely added some running back depth this summer. I feel like the biggest thing, at least for me, is that none of us like getting hit. So, we’d like to know what they are doing in pass protection for sure, and like Connor said, they have been doing a pretty solid job with that. 

GL: It’s a good group. They've been working hard all summer. You know, CJ Stokes and Henry Rutledge have done a good job of trying to lead verbally and by example. Some of the guys we added are really bringing a lot of value to that room, and that's a group that I think people are sleeping on a bit. 

CP: Obviously, you three are all competing to be the starting quarterback, so how do you all keep it in perspective, understanding that you want to be the starter but also the other two guys are your teammates and you’re still friends at the end of the day?

CH: For me, the way I think about it is there's stuff that you can control but there’s stuff you can’t control. I try to go in every day and do the things that I can control and do it to the best of my ability. And outside of that, just be a good person. Yes, there’s only so much you can do, within the confines of practice and meetings. Outside of that, it's like, ‘Hey, I did what I can do now, let’s just go be a normal person.’

GL: Like Connor said, the only journey you can control is yours. A lot of it's just focusing on making sure you can do, and as long as you've done anything and everything you can do, you can hang your hat on the wall at the end of the day and say, ‘I did all I can do,’ and you can be okay with the outcome of whatever happens. I think it's unique and it's an interesting situation to be in, but in today's day and age of college football a chance to compete all you can ask for.

ZW: I would say if we're doing well as a room, as a quarterback room we are going the right direction. I think it's been said, it always starts with us. And if we're doing well as a room, then the offense is going to go as we go. So, just supporting these guys if they have a negative rep, or something they can learn from on the next play, or if they have a good play, saying ‘good rep.’ Just supporting the guy next to you and competing every day with a positive attitude.

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