Heading into the 2015 season, the starting quarterback decision for Sacramento State football has yet to be made.

Spring practice was the beginning of the position battle as Kolney Cassel, Daniel Kniffin, Nolan Merker and Alexis Robinson began competing for the starting job.

In the team’s annual Green & Gold spring game on Saturday, a scrimmage, Kniffin received the most snaps between the four quarterbacks.

Merker and Robinson played limited snaps, as Cassel didn’t receive any.

Sac State coach Jody Sears said Kniffin and Merker have performed well during the spring, but Cassel and Robinson have had limited reps.

This spring, Kniffin has been a standout out of the group, according to Sears.

“It’s just his overall consistency running the offense, understanding his reads, understanding where he’s going with the football,” Sears said. “He’s been able to learn behind Garrett Safron for the last two years.”

Kniffin is heading into the season as a redshirt sophomore, but did receive in-game snaps against the University of Incarnate Word, UC Berkeley, Menlo College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2014. The Rocklin, California native threw 15 completions on 22 attempts and 146 passing yards for the season, as he served as the backup quarterback behind Safron.

“I obviously got to learn from the best, I was the backup last year,” Kniffin said. “I have to listen to coach [Paul] Peterson, as he has the answer for everything in our offense.”

To win the quarterback battle, Kniffin said he has to make his reads right and have good throws. Kniffin threw 12 completions on 21 attempts for 117 yards with one touchdown in the Green & Gold game.

Merker completed three passes on four attempts for 40 yards, while Robinson attempted one pass that went incomplete in the scrimmage.

Robinson and Cassel have received the fewest practice reps out of the group due to a limited number of team reps. The two quarterbacks joined the team this spring as transfers, but Sears hopes to get more reps for them, possibly in the summer or fall.

“When you get to your team reps, you only have so many reps [per player],” Sears said. “When you have four quarterbacks, you have to manage it and forecast it.”

Robinson is a transfer from Baylor University and hasn’t played football in a year as he was participating on the Bears’ track team on a scholarship.

Cassel transferred from Southern Methodist University and played in five games for the Mustangs in 2014. In 2014, Cassel threw 15 completions on 37 attempts for 156 passing yards and one touchdown for the Mustangs.

Both quarterbacks are entering their sophomore seasons this fall.

Sears has been impressed not only with Kniffin, but also with Merker, who has been just as productive on the practice field during spring ball.

“I’m very proud of Merker, and his production has been really good, throwing the ball and running the ball,” Sears said. “He’s made some really nice throws all through spring. I’m extremely proud of the production and productivity that Merker has done so far.”

Merker will be a redshirt freshman heading into the fall.

Like Kniffin, he’s a local native, but played at Sheldon High School in Elk Grove, California prior to attending Sac State. Merker said he has to make the most of his opportunities at practice to take the starting job.

“The thing at quarterback is almost unlike any other position,” Merker said. “If you’re not the starter you’re going to get very few, limited reps.”

Other notable performers this spring have been receivers Isiah Hennie, Jabarri Johnson and Jaelin Ratliff.

Hennie returned a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the first play during the Green & Gold game.

“That’s Isiah, that’s what he brings with his playmaking ability,” Sears said. “He’s gotten a lot stronger; he’s gotten more consistent in his play and he’s DeAndre Carter-like. He’s extremely quick and has break-away speed.”

Last season, Hennie served as he team’s primary kick returner as a true freshman.

He averaged 23.8 yards per return, which ranks as the second most in a single season in school history.

Both Johnson and Ratliff are heading into the season as redshirt freshmen and could possibly contribute to the offense in 2015. Johnson had five receptions for 67 yards and Ratliff had three receptions for 17 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown from Kniffin. Tight end John Cortez also caught three receptions for 26 yards.

It was important for Sears’ coaching staff to give the young players live reps, as upcoming seniors Nnamdi Agude and Darnell Sankey didn’t play much in the scrimmage.

Also, running back Jordan Robinson didn’t receive many reps, as he only carried the ball twice for minus one yard.

“I wanted to see those young guys go,” Sears said. “I already know what Nnamdi Agude could do, I already know what Darnell Sankey [can] do … I wanted to see those young guys [because] we have to get them ready to play ball.”

The Green & Gold game concluded spring practice for the Hornets, as the Gold team won 39-20 over the Green team.

The Hornets will kick off the 2015 regular season on Sept. 5 against Eastern Oregon University at Hornet Stadium.

It will be the first time Sac State football will open the season at home since 2008.