UAB Fall Camp SNAPSHOT: Day FIVE
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 5, 2025
UAB Fall Camp Snapshot
Lack of fall camp drama in the UAB quarterback room, at least when it comes to nabbing Jalen Kitna’s role as the starter, doesn’t change the way that offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Alex Mortensen wants his group to compete. There is, in fact, still work left to be done to fill out the full depth chart for the upcoming season.
Mortensen stopped by after practice late last week for an update on the early fall camp progression on a position that includes Kitna, Ryder Burton, Adrian Posse, Trace Campbell Nate Rogers, Cameron Jennings and Vanden Dugger.
On the fall camp play of the quarterbacks thus far: “One, I really like our quarterbacks. We really like the whole group. We're only three days in, I think there's things that we've seen progress from spring and we've seen some things where, you know, you haven't seen live bullets in a while, real pass rush and speed of the game's a little different than when you’re out throwing on air during the summer. So I think there's a couple of things that they're knocking the rust off. So, it's been both. But the thing I appreciate is I think our understanding of football is really improved. When you’re talking about the quarterbacks, you want them to have the game of a player but the mind of a coach. I think we're moving mentally to them starting to understand the big picture better. Whether it’s protections, how we want to run the ball, what concepts we like in a certain coverages. I've really enjoyed our dialogue there. It's really a good high IQ group.”
On the approach when a quarterback, in this case Jalen Kitna, enters fall camp as the clearcut starter: “I think that the starter still has to come out with the mindset that he's got to continue to earn that job. I've always believed that football is, obviously, a developmental game and I would say quarterback is especially a developmental position. So I think it's like, wherever you're at on the depth chart, how many reps you're getting, whether you're competing for a job or not, the mentality really is to get better every day. In regards with how we coach them, if you're the guy at the bottom of the depth chart or you're at the top, whatever, I try to make sure that we're coaching everybody. You kind of coach to where they’re at, maybe if he’s been here longer, you expect them to be able to handle a little bit more. You know, you got one guy that maybe is still doing pre-algebra and another one is doing calculus. Maybe you coach them where they're at, but the importance of the development part is super important for all.”
On stressing the ‘one or two plays away from playing’ mentality: “We stress it a lot, because one, it's true. It's true that you could be a play or two away. And then, even if you're not, preparing that way is gonna help you develop the most, if you have that sense of urgency. If you say ‘I gotta be ready to go’ then you're gonna get better. As opposed to thinking, well, I'll shelf this because I’m probably not gonna play for a while, so maybe I'll be a little less focused on a walk through, a little less focused on a meeting. I want all of them to have that mentality. And you hate to say things like this, but you know, it's crazy things have happened in football. I also try to help them be students of history and realize that that can happen.