MY QB!

South Alabama quarterback Trey Fetner sights a receiver during practice on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. 

(Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

MOBILE, Alabama -- Sitting back and watching teammates compete for an entire season was tougher for South Alabama quarterback Trey Fetner than most who go through a redshirt season.

At Class 2A Woodland, Fetner earned five letters in football (joining the team as an eighth-grader, playing quarterback and safety), six letters in baseball (joining the team as a seventh-grader) and four in basketball. He helped each of those teams to the state playoffs.

At USA, Fetner has made great strides this spring and moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart, positioning himself to challenge C.J. Bennett for the starting job.

"Last year, I came in and you can't really prepare yourself mentally for the speed of the game," Fetner said. "It just takes repetitions. So last year, I was pretty much going through the motions. ... This year, it's more competition for me. I have more of a will to push myself during practice."

That's what he has done, quarterbacks coach Bryant Vincent said.

"Trey entered the spring taking reps with the third and fourth group," Vincent said. "He wants to get better every single rep, every single day. ... He's got great pocket presence. He's got a very live arm. He's a tough kid, and he has great leadership abilities. He's just a winner. ... He attacks the weight room, he attacks the film room and he attacks the practice field."

It's all about competition and success for Fetner.

"I want to be No. 1," Fetner said, "but if it's not me, I just want us to win."

Fetner (6-0, 195) said he has always dreamed of being a Division I football player. Air Force and Army offered him a scholarship, but he wasn't interested in the military. Two weeks before signing day, Division II West Alabama offered him a scholarship and the chance to play baseball, too. His official visit to South Alabama won him over, but there was a problem -- USA couldn't offer a scholarship and asked him to come as a preferred walk-on.

"I prayed about it and talked to my family about it and they said whatever God leads you to do, you need to do," said Fetner. "I just felt this was the right place."

Fetner received a scholarship after the 2011 season, and the Jags' switch to a new spread offense could prove to be good timing for him.

"It's pretty much the same thing we ran in high school," Fetner said. "I never huddled in high school, and the zone option was exactly what we did in high school. I'm very comfortable with it. I feel like I've improved from last year. It's hard to tell how much I have improved because the skill guys and the offensive linemen have improved so much, too."