Ross Comis, Andrew Ford

UMass quarterbacks Ross Comis (right) and Andrew Ford during training camp practice on Aug. 9, 2016.

(Daniel Malone/MassLive.com)

AMHERST – While there's been no official UMass football depth chart released yet, what's been assumed through two-plus weeks of training camp has been all but confirmed – Ross Comis will start at quarterback for the Minutemen in the team's Sept. 3 season opener at Florida.

Comis has handled the majority of reps with the first-team offense since being named the No. 1 quarterback ahead of junior college transfer Andrew Ford by coach Mark Whipple at the onset of training camp in early August. The coaching staff likes what its seen out Ford as he's made the transition to UMass, but Comis's work and familiarity with the system have kept him firmly in the lead.

Tuesday, both Whipple and Comis confirmed the status of the quarterback competition.

"Everybody knows that he's going to start the game," Whipple said of the redshirt sophomore passer. "And finish it, unless we don't block for him."

Added Comis: "Definitely, I think it's my job. These guys trust me and they're ready for me to take them into this season and lead them."

Whipple said he's felt good about the quarterback situation on the whole, whether it's been Comis as the starter, Ford's acclimation to a new team or even Randall West's development as the third-stringer.

"It was a good competition," he said. "Andrew makes our 2s a lot better. Both those guys have done good and Randall West has had a real good camp."

Whipple noted that the coaching staff has film cut up of all the plays Comis has been running. They've sorted out what calls he prefers and has success with, as well as the ones he doesn't like as much. With that information in hand, they've begun to game plan around Comis – in ways that will likely look a little different than they did for Blake Frohnapfel the last two years – for the first few weeks of the season.

"I'm still learning, definitely. But I feel like I'm in a great spot with this offense," Comis said. "We've got some playmakers and I'm going to just try to get them the ball."

When Comis, barring injury or otherwise, steps under center at Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – known throughout college football as "The Swamp" – he'll be making his first start since high school. He picked up a few real-game appearances as the backup to Frohnapfel last season, but nothing so far will have fully prepared him for life as a Division I starter.

That his first start comes against an SEC power like the Gators will make the situation all the more challenging. For Comis's part, he's done his best to approach the situation with confidence and a level head.

"My mindset hasn't changed all camp," he said. "Anytime you have guys like Andrew and Randall to compete with, they make you better. I'm just getting better and better by the day.

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