As spring practice began this week, the quarterback position emerges as a focal point of intense competition. With the departures of Sam Jackson V (who transferred to Auburn) and Ben Finley (who transferred to Akron), the Golden Bears had just three quarterbacks on the roster heading into the offseason, including redshirt freshmen Brady Weingart and Belay Brummel, along with Fernando Mendoza, who notably started eight games last season, achieving a 3-5 record.