NORFOLK, Va. - Beginning this week and continuing each week through next month's training camp, www.nsuspartans.com will offer a position-by-position breakdown of the Spartan football team heading into the 2015 campaign.

Up first in our series: a look at the Spartan quarterbacks.

First-year quarterbacks coach Aaron Corp enjoys a rare luxury entering the 2015 season: all four quarterbacks on the Spartan roster have Division I starting experience. The trio of returners – sophomore Terrance Ervin and seniors Malik Stokes and Omari-Ali Timmons – has combined for 15 career starts for the Green & Gold, while incoming Florida Atlantic transfer Greg Hankerson Jr. started twice in two seasons for the Owls.

Ervin (6-3, 210) saw the bulk of the playing time for the Spartans last season as a true freshman, starting nine of NSU's 12 games. (Departed Tyler Clark started twice and Stokes once in 2014). Ervin led the team with 1,310 yards and eight touchdowns through the air, displaying a strong arm. He had three games with 200+ yards passing, all against MEAC opponents. He seized control of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart after spring practice.

"I like Terrance's feel in the pocket. He has a good presence and a strong arm," said Corp, the former quarterback at USC and Richmond who also has NFL experience on his resume. "His footwork is getting better, as is his understanding of what our offense should do against certain defenses. I'm expecting big things from him when camp starts."

Stokes (6-0, 195) and Timmons (6-1, 190) are both entering their third and final seasons in an NSU uniform. Stokes started once in 2014, but his most impactful performance came as a reserve. Stokes, playing for an injured Ervin, threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of NSU's victory at Florida A&M. 

Like Stokes, Timmons also saw limited playing time in 2014. He played in two games (Maine and S.C. State) and attempted a total of 13 rushes in those two games. He started a pair of games as a sophomore in 2013 and is perhaps the fastest runner of the three returning NSU signal-callers.

"Both Malik and Omari bring a maturity to the team that I think is important," Corp said. "They both have a workmanlike approach and both have been leaders this offseason in our weight-lifting and conditioning program. They're constantly working to get better and I know they will be prepared."

Head coach Latrell Scott made just one addition at the quarterback position in his first recruiting class, but it is a significant one. Hankerson (6-0, 190) played in 16 games over the last two years for FAU, passing for a total of 647 yards and four touchdowns and running for 75 additional yards. Hankerson started twice in his FAU career, throwing for 272 yards against Rice as a freshman in 2013 and completing 12-of-18 passes for 88 yards against No. 2 Alabama last year. Coaches look for him to compete for playing time right away.

"Greg has quick feet and an arm that can make all the throws. He has the ability to do some things on the perimeter of the defense," Corp said. "Just from speaking with him, I know he understands football and is picking up our offense from a classroom standpoint. Now it's a matter of transferring that onto the field once camp starts."

With four seasoned veterans under center, Corp and Scott like what they have to work with in 2015.

Said Corp: "Our three upperclassmen made a good deal of progress this spring, and adding Greg into the mix will make for good competition moving forward."