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MISSOULA- The University of Montana football team is continuing their trek toward the opening kickoff of 2012, when they host South Dakota in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Head coach Mick Delaney won't yet name an official starter at quarterback, but he does say Trent McKinney has a large lead over the other passers in camp.

The native of Hawaii recently turned 19, redshirted last year, and hasn't completed a pass in a college game. But he did earn the Grizzlies scout team player of the year award in 2011, and all those snaps versus the number one defense made him ready to step up this fall.

"It helped my process of speeding up my throw, my delivery, my reads. With them moving so fast last year, it helped me adjust to the game," McKinney said.''

"He's just growing up kind of in front of our eyes a little bit. It's just remarkable what two weeks of fall camp has done for him and how many reps we've taken. Just getting rid of the ball quicker. He'll play with his eyes a little more with the defense. He doesn't lock onto one wide receiver, which is huge," tight end Greg Hardy observed.

Delaney also said he will not use the philosophy of some former Grizzly coaches. When he names his starting quarterback, the new man in charge plans to stick with that guy, and not sub in other signal callers if he can avoid it.