Sizing up the Gophers backup quarterback options; other freshmen impressions

With Mitch Leidner entrenched as the No. 1 quarterback, the main QB intrigue in Gophers camp involves his backups.

Redshirt freshman Chris Streveler is the No. 2 starter. Will he be ready if Leidner gets injured? If not, next in line is Conor Rhoda, another redshirt freshman who walked on out of Cretin-Derham Hall.

Streveler, from Crystal Lake, Ill., has had up-and-down moments through the first week of practice, but he delivered the biggest offensive highlight Wednesday.

Streveler hit wide receiver Logan Hutton in stride on a skinny post for a 28-yard touchdown pass. For the celebration, Streveler ran to the end zone and jumped all over Hutton.

"Coach Kill always talks about having juice, so that was fun," Streveler said. "It's always fun to make a big play in practice. It was the first live period [of camp], so it was pretty sweet."

Quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski said Streveler "sometimes plays better when he's ticked."

"I ripped him a little bit [Tuesday], and he just went crazy, [completing] throw after throw," Zebrowski said. "He wants the ball on the next play."

Here are some quick thoughts from Zebrowski on the other Gophers quarterbacks besides Leidner and Streveler:

* On Rhoda: "Conor has a really, really strong arm and can stay in the pocket. And he's really, really smart and can make some plays too. He can put the ball in some places some other kids can't."

* On Dimonic Roden-McKinzy (true freshman from Kansas City): "Kids just figure things out at different times. And for Dimonic, it's taken him a while because things are going [fast], and him being shorter, he's got to Russell Wilson some things. He's got to really be perfect with his drop, really find gaps. He's a good athlete, but he's got to find gaps like Russell does and make things happen. For him, the curve is a little bit higher or longer. It's going to take him a while to pick things up.

* On Jacques Perra (true freshman walk-on from Roseville): "He had some opportunities [to play elsewhere] and decided to come here. He's a really good player. Quick release, accurate, smart kid. He's really good. He's done a really good job. He's smart, and he picks things up really, really fast."

Camp round up