Working through a five-way competition in a crowded UTSA quarterbacks room this spring, rising senior Cordale Grundy has developed a motto.

“You just make your rep count,” Grundy said. “Don’t count your reps.”

Grundy is the most experienced starter of the bunch that includes sophomore Frank Harris, redshirt freshman Jordan Weeks, sophomore transfer Lowell Narcisse and incoming freshman Suddin Sapien.

All five were suited up and splitting reps as UTSA held its first of 15 spring practices on Monday, and coach Frank Wilson said he is in no hurry to start creating separation.

“I hope it stays that tight,” Wilson said. “I hope we’re at the last minute and we’re anguishing over who is going to be the starter come August. I hope the competition stays heated. I’d love nothing more than to allow that to be the toughest decision of my career.”

Wilson said each will have the opportunity to play with the Roadrunners’ first-, second- and third-string offenses through the spring.

Working as the running backs position coach during the spring sessions, Wilson was hesitant to offer too in-depth of an evaluation of the quarterbacks group before reviewing the practice on film. At first glance, he said players were limiting mistakes, competing and encouraging one another.

“We could possibly have five 1-A guys,” Wilson said. “Five guys who are in position that can start for us. That’s a beautiful problem. We’ll have a tough decision, but a good decision that we’ll have. A good position to be in to have to make that decision come August.”

UTSA coach Frank Wilson was hesitant to say too much about the quarterbacks after working with the running backs for most of the Roadrunners’ first spring practice, but he did give his early impressions of Frank Harris. pic.twitter.com/j38Onj6bVc — Greg Luca (@GregLuca) March 18, 2019

Grundy, a transfer from Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College, appeared in nine games for UTSA last season, throwing for 989 yards and five touchdowns against three interceptions on 50.5 percent passing.

He started UTSA’s first seven games but attempted just five passes the rest of the way, including sitting out the Roadrunners’ final three contests after suffering an MCL sprain, he said.

For the year, UTSA ranked last in the NCAA in total offense, totaling 247.1 yards per game.

“We weren’t good enough last year,” Grundy said. “I myself, first need to improve everything. And we as a team.”

Harris, a Clemens product, was back in action for the Roadrunners after a torn ACL suffered last spring cost him the 2018 season.

Wilson said Harris made some quality throws and showed his engaging, fun-loving demeanor when he kept the ball on a zone-read play and “pointed at the defensive end, almost laughing and taunting him.”

“I told him, ‘Don’t do that,’” Wilson said. “But that’s Frank. He has that winning personality.”

Monday marked the first practice at UTSA for Narcisse, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College who redshirted at LSU during the 2017 season.

Wilson said Narcisse showed flashes of being the player who was once a four-star prospect out of St. James (La.). He was benched during his lone season with Mississippi Gulf Coast last year.

“Since the time he got here in January, he’s lost about 15 pounds,” Wilson said. “He’s the guy I remember in high school that was so coveted that we had to compete against Clemson, and Georgia, and Florida State, all of those guys, for. He seems to be getting himself back in stride. Not quite where he wants to be or where we want him to be, but he looked good today.”

On ExpressNews.com: Frank Harris returns, quarterbacks in focus as UTSA opens spring practice

Grundy said Narcisse brings athleticism and knowledge from a year at LSU, while Harris presents another athletic option who can “make all the throws.” Weeks has shown major improvements, Grundy said, after throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown in four games last season. And Sapien, a newcomer from Midland, “can definitely throw the ball with any of us.”

Grundy added that consistency and leadership will be critical for whoever earns the job. The entire Roadrunners roster will be watching.

“It’s good competition, man,” rising senior defensive end Jarrod Carter-McLin said. “That’s how they have to look at it. I’m sure one will rise to the top, one or two will rise to the top. But ultimately, that’s the point of playing football or any sport, is to compete. So those guys, they’ll get out there and compete. I know we’ll get it figured out, for sure.”

greg.luca@express-news.net