Gophers' Rhoda, Croft to start camp in open QB competition

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota's first season under coach P.J. Fleck will begin with a wide-open competition at quarterback between Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft.

Fleck said Monday that Rhoda and Croft will take equal turns with the first team offense until a starter is selected. Fall camp opens Tuesday, and the Gophers host Buffalo Aug. 31. That leaves Rhoda and Croft about four weeks to win the job, after neither player separated himself during spring practice.

Rhoda is a fifth-year senior and former walk-on who started one game at Maryland last season for an injured Mitch Leidner.

Croft is a sophomore who took a redshirt last season. He appeared in three games in 2015, including the second half at Northwestern after Leidner was benched.