CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman quarterback Kris Heavner dodges a UCLA defender last season. Heavner and the rest of the Wildcats will open the spring football season today.

Earlier this month, new UA offensive coordinator Mike Canales appeared in Police Beat after he found two cartridges of ammunition in a local hotel parking lot and reported them to police. Today, he'll discover a lot of firepower again, when he finally sees his stable of quarterbacks in action.

The UA football team's (2-10, 1-7 Pacific 10 Conference last year) spring practices begin today, with the question of who will line up under center looming large.

Canales, the quarterbacks coach as well, said he is happy with the group vying for the job - freshman Kris Heavner, redshirt sophomore Nic Costa, redshirt freshman Ryan O'Hara and freshman Richard Kovalcheck, who redshirted in 2003.

"I'm excited," said Canales, who touted Heavner and the other two experienced signal-callers, while expressing excitement about Kovalcheck's potential.

In addition to the introduction of new offense and new defense over the 15 spring practices, the UA team will see a competition for the starting quarterback position for the second year in a row.

Last season, the former UA staff pulled Heavner's redshirt in the middle of the season and thrust him into the starting role after the duo of O'Hara and Costa did not meet expectations.

Heavner threw 15 interceptions and eight touchdowns, completing 51 percent of his passes for 1,501 yards - the UA record for yards by a freshman.

After impressing coaches in mop-up time at Purdue, Heavner earned the starting job, nearly leading the Wildcats to an upset of then-No. 19 TCU. In his debut, Heavner's 276 yards passing against the Horned Frogs was the most by a freshman at the UA in more than 20 years.

Costa held the starting job to begin the season and started the first three games, splitting time with O'Hara. O'Hara started the fourth game, then gave way to Heavner, the starter for the last eight games.

After Heavner became the starter, Costa backed him up and was featured in the goal line offense, throwing for four touchdowns but completing just 40 percent of his passes.

O'Hara completed 33 of 78 passes for 341 yards last season. As the season wore on, the 6-foot-6, 190-pounder's role broadened. He helped out on the field goal block unit, lined up at wide receiver during the Arizona State game, and even played briefly for the basketball team.

"I saw a lot of good," said Canales, citing game films from last season.

Kovalchek, who lists at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, passed for 2,600 yards and 19 touchdowns and earned All-America honors in high school. Arizona beat out Tennessee and Notre Dame to sign Kovalcheck, whom was considered the prize of last year's recruiting class.

Canales, a protŽgŽ of Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow, developed Phillip Rivers at North Carolina State before coaching wide receivers for the New York Jets in 2003.

Canales said that though Arizona will try to pencil in a number one and number two quarterback as soon as possible, the reps for quarterbacks would be split four ways for a couple weeks.

While all the positions are potentially up for grabs, Canales said he didn't expect a complete free-for-all.

"Well, I don't know that it's a totally open (roster)," Canales said.

For instance, Canales said he knows he can rely on All Pac-10 honoree sophomore running back Mike Bell, who had 920 yards on 5.5 yards per carry.

Most of the practices will be closed to the public, though the Saturday practices are expected to be open to the public. The Spring Game is April 17.