HAMMOND, La. – When the Southeastern Louisiana University football team kicks off the 2025 season, it will do so with a new quarterback leading the offense.
 
Just who will be that signal caller has been one of the most intriguing questions during SLU's fall camp. Newcomers Carson Camp and Kyle Lowe have separated themselves as the top candidates for the job in a position room that includes returners Tanner Murray and Casey Avrard, as well as true freshman Connor Nelson.
 
"We've seen great progress out of both Carson and Kyle," SLU head coach Frank Scelfo said. "Nobody's taken the job, but nobody's lost the job either. There's a good chance both will play and if one becomes more effective, he'll start getting the majority of the snaps. But we expect both guys to be ready to go at all times."
 
Camp is the more experienced of the two new Lion signal callers. The Bloomington-Normal, Illinois native comes to Hammond after stints at South Dakota and Sacramento State. The first true freshman to start at quarterback for USD, he threw for 4,123 yards and 24 touchdowns during his tenure with the 'Yotes, ranking among the FCS leaders in completion percentage (11^th) and pass efficiency (14^th) as a sophomore.
 
"Coach Scelfo does a good job of bringing us all together," Camp said of his impressions of Southeastern since arriving in January. "Everything within our program is very structured and we're very efficient with our time at practice. Our team is starting to really come together and I think it's a big help to have 23 seniors.
 
"I'm an experienced player who has played in a lot of games, so that's something I bring that helps the team," Camp added. "There's some situations that I've faced that maybe some of our younger guys haven't yet and I can share some of my experiences with my teammates."
 
Lowe came to Hammond after previous stops at Georgia State and Middle Tennessee State. The Collierville, Tennessee native threw for 20 touchdowns and rushed for 13 scores as a senior at Fayette Ware High School.
 
"I've received nothing but a warm welcome from everybody since I arrived at Southeastern in January," Lowe said. "We've got a great quarterback room and we're growing and pushing each other every day.
 
"I was able to learn from some really good quarterbacks at my previous schools – how to practice and compete every day," Lowe continued. "I brought that with me here and it's been nothing but good vibes and energy as we come together as an offense."
 
Both Camp and Lowe have both embraced the quarterback competition starting in the spring and carrying over into the fall.
 
"All the guys in our room are really talented and can make plays," Lowe stated. "So when you know you're competing with other quarterbacks that do the right things, it pushes everybody to be at their best. It's been really exciting to be in a room with like-minded teammates and we're all able to grow together as a group."
 
"It sounds like a cliché, but there's no days off and you have to come ready every day," Camp commented "We have to bring our 'A' game, there is no 'B' game. That competition's been great, because it's making everyone better."
 
Scelfo wants his quarterbacks to avoid the stress, but embrace the pressure.
 
"Stress comes from worrying about things you can't control and we need keep both of those guys away from that," Scelfo said. "But there is pressure to perform at a high level, but handling and understanding that pressure is something they can control and will make them better. The way they avoid stress and handle pressure is going to advance who they are as players and our team becomes better from that."
 
SLU opens the 2025 campaign Saturday with a 6:30 p.m. contest at Louisiana Tech. The Lions open their five-game home schedule Sept. 13, hosting Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. in Strawberry Stadium.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net. Southeastern will continue offering mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail or text message in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Football, follow @LionUpFootball and @Coach_Scelfo on X, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and follow lionupfootball on Instagram.
 
TOUCHDOWN CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the football program are encouraged to join the Touchdown Club. Lion football alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Touchdown Club and S Club (football) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern football program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics observes a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.