JOSHUA SILLS/Arizona Summer Wildcat Redshirt freshman QB Ryan O'Hara, breaks a run Sunday. It was the first practice with full pads.

Nic Costa and Ryan O'Hara still neck and neck in their battle for the starting quarterback job

After the season ended, the question of who would be the Arizona football team's starting quarterback was on everyone's minds. After Spring Ball, there was still no resolution, and after the first few training camp practices, the UA is still where it started.

"The quarterback race is really going to be fun to watch throughout camp," said Head Coach John Mackovic after the first practice. While Mackovic said on Saturday that it was too early and would be unfair to single anyone out as the leader, two young wildcats are neck and neck in the battle for the position.

Red-shirt sophomore Nic Costa and red-shirt freshman Ryan O'Hara are still vying for the starting quarterback job.

The 6-foot-6 O'Hara is a pro-style quarterback, and Costa, who is 5'11 and 200 pounds, is one of the fastest and strongest players on the team.

The competition between the two talented young signal callers, both All-Americans in high school who were invited to the prestigious Elite 11 Quarterback Camp, is expected to be one of the highlights of camp.

"They still have some work to do (because) we're three weeks away from playing," Mackovic said. "They're improving, they're growing, they're all young so there's a lot of work to do."

JOSHUA SILLS/Arizona Summer Wildcat Sophomore CB Bennie Brown tackles junior TE Steve Fleming during practice Sunday.

On Saturday night, the last practice before the team donned full pads for the first time, Mackovic was impressed with the quarterbacks' play after getting off to a bit of a slow start ant the beginning of camp.

"The quarterbacks performed much better tonight, and they threw more balls right to the receivers," Mackovic said. "I was very pleased that they were able to improve."

O'Hara and Costa's college experience has mostly been limited to practice, with both quarterbacks using their red shirt year.

Costa, who backed up Jason Johnson last year, threw a 92-yard touchdown pass against UCLA in his first game following an announcement from Coach Mackovic that he would receive more playing time. Costa passed 7 for 19 on the year.

During seven-on-seven passing drills, the backs and receivers against the linebackers and defensive backs, Costa and O'Hara's numbers have been near identical the first four days of camp. On Wednesday, both had 5 completions on 8 attempts, on Thursday O'Hara was 7 for 8 while Costa was 5 for 8, on Friday O'Hara was 3 for 7, Costa 2 for 9 and on Saturday, Costa was 5 for 5 and O'Hara was 6 for 7.

"It feels good to get out here with my receivers, and see the timing and the work we put out over the summer and see it all start to come together," O'Hara said.

Mackovic was also impressed by the ability of the two true freshmen quarterbacks, 6'3 205 pound San Diego St. Augustine High School product Richard Kovalcheck and 6'3 215 pound Kris Heavner, of Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Johnson City, Texas.

"They can zing it," Mackovic said. "They both have good arms, live arms. I'm not saying they're in that top group, but it's as good a young group as we've had in a long time."

Kovalcheck is a pro-style quarterback and was one of the most highly regarded high school quarterbacks last year, coveted by schools such as Tennessee. Heavner is a more athletic type quarterback and has been dubbed "Little Nicky" by teammates.