PISCATAWAY — There was only so much Rutgers quarterback Hayden Rettig could show during practice last season. A transfer from LSU, Rettig was the scout team quarterback as he sat out due to NCAA transfer rules.

Rettig displayed his strong arm, but he couldn't demonstrate his ability to run an offense on the scout team. That will change now that Rettig is competing with Chris Laviano for the starting quarterback job.

"It's a 180-degree change," coach Kyle Flood said Monday after the team's first spring practice. "It's completely different. You're on the scout team and you're reading a card and a majority of the time the defensive coaches are telling you where they want you to throw it. So you're not even making a decision off of a card. They're telling you, 'Throw it to this guy because that's the ball we're trying to trigger on defense.' There's really no comparison to it other than you're throwing and catching, so mentally it's a lot more work."

Rettig acknowledged the difference, saying things were much faster operating the first- and second-team offense against the top defense in practice.

"I felt all right," Rettig said. "I just need to get back in the hang of things and keep doing what I'm doing, brick-by-brick, step-by-step. I thought I threw some good balls and threw some bad balls, and I just have to learn from it, watch film and get better."

Rettig earned the approval of Sanu, who said the young quarterback has a lot of talent and potential. Now Rettig is focused on impressing Flood and offensive coordinator Ben McDaniels.

"I just have to keep working. That's pretty much it," Rettig said. "I have to keep working and prove that I'm a good player and have people see it and become a leader and do what I have to do in order to win the starting spot."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.