The earlier a starting quarterback is identified, the better.
That was one of the first tenets Marshall Faulk shared when he became the Southern football coach. Following his team’s spring showcase April 4, which plays a significant part in the decision-making process, the first-time head coach said then that he had to review the film to speak authoritatively on his quarterbacks.
Almost three weeks since the public practice, Faulk said Tuesday that one player has an edge in the battle between returning quarterback Ashton Strother and Long Beach City College transfer Wyatt McCauley.
“Right now, Ashton did a great job, and I would put him ahead of Wyatt right now,” Faulk told The Advocate.
Faulk discussed his football team on the golf course after he participated in the Zurich Classic celebrity shootout in New Orleans. The Pro Football Hall of Fame running back won the charity golf event with partner Tyler Shough, the New Orleans Saints’ starting quarterback. They held off the team of ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman and former LSU and NFL quarterback Matt Flynn, and the team of Saints safety Justin Reid and linebacker Pete Werner.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough rides on a golf cart with Marshall Faulk during the Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
As straightforward as Faulk’s answer was about the quarterback position, he also knows there are four months before the season kicks off and not all of his signal-callers were with him in the spring.
While Faulk had eyes on Strother, McCauley and returner Dillon Compton, who didn’t get any game action as a freshman last year, he didn’t have two other quarterbacks: freshmen Vashaun Coulon from St. Augustine and Mario Litmer from Highlands High School in Kentucky.
“We got a couple other guys coming in in the fall,” Faulk said. “There’s just more competition to come. Like I said, we’re gonna put the best talent that we have out there on the field to try to win games. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re trying to get better everywhere.”
Faulk plans on using the best player regardless of grade at every position. In the case of starting quarterback, Strother’s edge as the top option was largely because of his experience.
“I just think it was kind of unfair,” Faulk said. “You know, Wyatt’s a redshirt freshman and Ashton’s a senior. Obviously, Ashton being able to manage the game, to deal with the things that you want a quarterback to (do), just looked the part. He did that better. But all in all, I still like where Wyatt is.”
Strother was one of the team’s two main starters last year under former coach Terrence Graves. In 10 games, he completed 89 of 171 passes for 1,111 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 94 yards and four touchdowns on 50 attempts.
Faulk isn’t fixated on only his quarterback. He is locked in on both sides of the ball.
“As I continue to tell the players,” Faulk said, “practicing, that’s how you’re gonna play better. If you practice bad, you’re gonna play bad. There’s a correlation to it, and getting them to understand that, you know. There was some jobs up for grabs and some guys solidified some spots.”
When the emcee of the golf event asked whether Faulk plans on competing more on the greens, he said he’s too busy. While he has players concentrating on offseason training to prepare for August camp, he got on the golf course to bring attention to the university.
“Anytime I can come back to the city and show some love, support and bring some attention and awareness to what we’re doing up in Baton Rouge is always great,” Faulk said.
