East Carolina quarterback Kurt Benkert has been cleared for spring practice, head coach Scottie Montgomery confirmed on Wednesday.

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The junior signal-caller suffered a torn ACL prior to the start of last season shortly after being named the team's starting quarterback in fall camp. ECU went on to have inconsistent play at quarterback between Blake Kemp and James Summers the rest of the season in Benkert's absence.

"We will take care of him of course and try to maintain him like we do for all our quarterbacks in spring ball. I don't like to see them on the ground," Montgomery said. "He's been released. We're happy to have him. We're ready to see him on the field back competing and he's extremely excited. He texted me this morning how excited he was to get back going.

"To have an injury and to be taken away from what you love for that long of a time, and watch everybody else get an opportunity to play, or things don't go the way you think they would go if you were in there. A whole host of things go through your mind. 'Will I ever make it back?' All those doubts you have as players, you have them no matter how much ego or swag you have. I'm really, really happy for him. It's a great time in his life."

Benkert is expected to compete with senior and former Minnesota starting quarterback Philip Nelson for the starting job beginning this spring. Kemp has left the program and although there's been some speculation about Summers moving to wide receiver, Montgomery wouldn't confirm the team's position plans for the talented athlete on Wednesday. Redshirt freshman John Jacobs is also in the quarterback room. The team's first practice is March 16.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder also sent out the following tweet on Wednesday morning.

I was just fully cleared for Spring Ball. I'm thankful for the training staff & everything they did in this 6 month recovery.. God is good! — Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) March 2, 2016



