GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Of the many new starters Furman will put on display in its 2024 season opener at Ole Miss on Aug. 31, none will command more attention than quarterback.

Gone is 2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year signal caller Tyler Huff, whose dual threat ability helped lead the Paladins to a 20-6 record over the last two seasons, including a 14-2 SoCon mark, highlighted by a last year's league championship.  In Huff's two years with the Paladins, Furman never lost a league game (13-0) he started.

Huff's successor will come from among three candidates — Carson Jones (6-2, 204, So.), Trey Hedden (6-3, 231, Fr.), or Nehuel Garcia (6-3, 202, R-Fr.).

"We've had some good competition there among three guys coming into the fall, with Carson, Trey, and Nehuel battling to determine who will start," said head coach Clay Hendrix on Tuesday.  "They've had good preseasons and are all getting better.  At the end of the week we'll narrow it down at bit before we decide who will be in the first group.  I think all three are guys we can win games with.

"They all have their own strengths but are similar ability-wise.  They are certainly different from Tyler in that they don't have his running ability, but they can all stretch the field, which they've shown.  They make all the throws we want to make.  When you combine that with the group of receivers we have, it makes us better offensively from that standpoint. Our guys have confidence in them."

The leader in terms of experience is Jones, who came off the bench for the injured Huff to direct the Paladins to a 17-14 SoCon title clinching road win over Chattanooga last year, throwing the game winning touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining.  The following week, in his first career start, he passed for 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-3 win over VMI.  He finished the season with 542 yards passing (57x101, 2 INTs) and seven touchdowns and was named SoCon Co-Freshman of the Year.

"Carson has been in our program for three years, which makes you think he should have the advantage.  He's played well in a couple of big games.  The big key for him, and all our guys, will be consistency and the ability to take care of the ball.  He's done those things.  He throws the ball well, is a good athlete, and has good command of what we are doing."

Hedden joined the Paladins in January as a mid-year enrollee out of Tampa Catholic High School and took part in spring practice.

"Trey is a big-body guy with a big arm and is a good athlete.  He's a real student of the game and seems to around here a bunch for extra tutoring and asking questions.  He has a bright future, though he hasn't played in a game.  Somebody has to play in a game at some point."

Garcia begins his second season in the program.

"Nehuel has made some really good progress from a year ago."

The Paladins also have Luke Hedrick (5-11, 190, R-Jr.), Isaac Ward (5-11, 185, Gr.), and Dixon Massingill (6-3, 180, R-So.) at quarterback.

"Luke has been in our program for four years.  He will likely be our holder.