CHICAGO -- If Chris Ash lit a fire under the returning Rutgers quarterbacks by adding TCU graduate transfer Zach Allen to the mix, then the first-year coach's next move was to turn the temperature up to an inferno.

Ash said at Big Ten Media Day that Allen will start training camp on even footing with Chris Laviano, Hayden Rettig and Giovanni Rescigno -- the three who have been part of his program since day one and who competed for the No. 1 spot in spring camp.

"That's why we brought him in," Ash said. "We didn't bring in a grad transfer to be third on the depth chart. We want to give him every opportunity to go out and win the starting job just like the other days."

That's probably most alarming to Laviano, who seemed to be in the driver's seat for most of spring camp. Laviano completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,247 yards and 16 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as a first-year starter in 2015.

"We have created competition in a room that needed competition," Ash said. "We have made individuals uncomfortable that needed to be made uncomfortable and they have all responded in the right way."

Rettig, a big-armed LSU transfer, was thought to be Laviano's biggest threat after the two battled last training camp. Fans clamored for Rettig when Laviano struggled through the second half of last season but former coach Kyle Flood never budged.

Where Flood was loyal to a fault after making his initial decision, Ash wants to create an environment where job security is not guaranteed.

Enter Allen to "basically throw a bomb in the room and get guys to change," according to Ash.

Though he profiles as the dual-threat that is preferred in the spread offense, Allen attempted just two passes in one game over three years as a backup at TCU.

"He's brought competition," Ash said. "He's a guy that comes from a very good program in TCU, and, although he hasn't played a lot of quarterback at TCU, he's mature, he's intelligent. He's a competitor and he forces those guys in the other room to do the same things.

"It has changed the behavior. It's increased performance so far without getting out there on the field. In terms of what they've done in the weight room and in the workouts so far this summer, he's done exactly what we wanted him to do by bringing him in. We'll go out and put on the helmet and shoulder pads and roll the balls out and we'll see what happens."

Laviano pulled ahead of the others in the early part of spring camp but fell back to the pack. He got the first and longest look with the starters in the spring game.

Rettig started the season-opener while Laviano was serving a suspension and played in four others, combining to go 14-of-25 with 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Rescigno, who has three years of eligibility remaining still is awaiting his collegiate debut. Allen, Laviano and Rettig all have two years of eligibility remaining.

The trio's performance amounted to short of what Ash wanted to see.

"Inconsistent would be the best word to describe it," Ash said. "That's why we did what we did by bringing in Zach Allen.

"We had to get guys to be more consistent in their play, we had to get guys to be more consistent in their leadership, more consistent in their commitment to being the best they can be in terms of commitment to film study and weight room and just training overall. All of those things were inconsistent and we have to get that changed."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.