Carlos Davis and Nathan Kent did not cross paths when they played quarterback at Mervo and Liberty, respectively. But if they had? “We know what the outcome would have been,” Kent said with a laugh.

Retorted Davis: “We would have gotten them boys over there.”

What isn’t hypothetical is that Davis and Kent are now teammates at Towson and vying for the opportunity to start under center for the team’s season opener at Cincinnati on Saturday.

The quarterbacks have separated themselves from four others in the race to take the field with the first offense.

On the Tigers’ first depth chart of the season, Kent and Davis were both listed at “QB1” with redshirt senior Sean Brown at “QB3.” The competition is too close for second-year coach Pete Shinnick to announce a starter.

“They’ve battled back and forth,” he said. “At any position, you want great depth. So you’d love to be able to go at every position, ‘Man, if this guy plays, we’re in great shape, and if this guy plays, we’re in great shape.’ Both of those guys have done a really good job.” Much is at stake for both players, including the opportunity to perform in front of family and friends in the area. Kent, a 22-yearold redshirt junior who grew up in Eldersburg, started every game for the Tigers last fall and is eager for a repeat showing.

“It’s just a blessing every time I go out there and see them in the stands,” he said. “Being able to see them in the stands, I think it helps me a little bit just seeing them.”

The pressure might be more acute for Davis, who is in his last year of eligibility. The 24-year-old graduate student from Baltimore has played at community colleges, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision’s Western Carolina, and Football Bowl Subdivision’s Massachusetts, but chose Towson over Morgan State, Houston Christian and Alabama A&M for the chance to play in front of his mother Chardrie Snider and other family members for the first time since Oct. 9, 2021.

“For my last stop, why not home?” said Davis, who passed for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 10-point loss to Mercer. “My whole family can come see me play now. So it’s definitely a blessing. Plus being around these guys, they’ve brought me in and just showed love since the first day I got here.”

In 11 games for the Tigers (5-6, 4-4 Coastal Athletic Association), the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Kent completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,123 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions and carried the ball 82 times for 288 yards and three scores. That experience looms as a sizable advantage for the incumbent.

“I’m definitely very comfortable with the offense and comfortable with what the coaches are calling and things like that,” Kent said.

“But Carlos is a great quarterback, and we look forward to competing every day. So it’s exciting. We want to push each other to be the best we can be because we want the team to be the best it can be.”

The 6-2, 220-pound Davis made four appearances last season for the Minutemen (3-9), connected on 61.4% of his throws for 886 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. He characterized the quarterback battle as “great.”

“He’s pushing me every day, and I’m pushing him every day,” he said. “But we also have fun while we’re doing it. So may the best man win. That’s all.”

Each candidate has his strengths. Kent is as comfortable in the pocket as he is on the run, while Davis has demonstrated a knack for extending plays when the protection breaks down.

Among the many factors that go into determining a starting-caliber quarterback, Shinnick said a player’s ability to ad-lib when necessary is pivotal.

“It’s the guy who can run the offense to the level of expectation that we have,” he began. “We say trust the process, but when the process breaks down, who’s going to get us out of that? Not every play is perfect, and the defense has plays, too, and does things. So it’s the guy that understands every component of the offense and puts us in the best position possible to play at a high level.”

While Shinnick and his staff continue to review both candidates’ profiles, Davis and Kent said they don’t concern themselves with their status in the competition.

“It’s not hard,” Davis said.

“You’ve just got to keep your head down and grind, and whatever happens, happens. So we’ll roll with whatever decision he makes.”

Added Kent: “I think we’re both just attacking the day, every detail, knowing that it’s a competition and cheering each other on. We’re not antsy or things like that. We’re just going and attacking every day, and we’ll trust that whatever Coach Shinnick decides is best for the team. So we’re not too worried about that.”

Whoever is named the starter will naturally be happy, but not content.

“I think the mindset is to never be satisfied,” Kent said. “Just always finding something to be better in. They preach consistency over complacency. I’ll never be satisfied with how I am. I’m always trying to get better.”

Added Davis: “That would be a plus. But I’ve just got to keep going hard because I’ve got a guy behind me that can do the same thing I can do. So I’ve got to keep going hard and stay levelheaded.”

Both players agreed that they will support each other throughout the season. That camaraderie is significant, and Shinnick said Davis and Kent have the confidence of their teammates.

“I think all of our guys believe in both of those guys at a high level,” he said. “So I think that’s a plus there.”