After an uneven start where Eckhaus completed only six of his first 12 attempts, he locked in and connected on nine in a row, finishing the day 15-of-22.  Eckhaus (6-0, 209) was the clear-cut favorite to be the next starting QB at Wazzu before Saturday.

Last spring under the old staff, Eckhaus was splitting duties with John Mateer, a battle Mateer ultimately won. But today not only did he take all the first-team reps, he was the best of the Cougar QBs.

Yes, it’s only the first day of spring ball and the Cougs are in helmets and shorts per NCAA rules. But Eckhaus already had that midseason swagger.

[See the video above for Rogers’s thoughts on a lengthy 24-period first practice]

Jaxon Potter and Reilly Garcia split second-team duties, with Potter going 12-of-16 passing. Garcia was 7-of-10, but was also intercepted by Dajon Doss. Hunter Najm was with the third unit and completed 5-of-8 passes. Potter is a 6-5, 210-pound third-year from Huntington Beach, while Garcia (6-2, 207) is a JC transfer walk on from College of the Sequoias. Najm is a 5-11, 191-pound, second-year walk on from Aliso Viejo, Calif.

When it came to favorite targets, Devin Ellison shined bright on Day 1.