The UAB football team is into its third week of fall camp and the learning curve is growing smaller and position battles are wrapping up ahead of game preparation for the season opener, Thursday, Aug. 31, against North Carolina A&T at Protective Stadium.

Read more on UAB fall camp:

Nikia Eason Jr. leading UAB’s fresh-faced pass rushers

Ike Rowell parlaying impressive spring into fall intensity

Luke Jones laying early claim to vacant LG position

Here are some observations from the limited access period provided to the media:

— The Blazers held their first scrimmage of fall practice Saturday and the overall impression, according to sources in attendance, was that the offense is humming and ready to take flight this season. Fred Farrier II and true freshman Amare Thomas could become vital playmakers at receiver this season and showed out in the scrimmage while making difficult catches with regularity.

“There’s a lot of good but there was very little gray. That’s the hardest step for any program, going from getting good at the mundane to greater than mundane. I thought today there was a much clearer understanding of the standard.”

“We’re getting there but need a stronger, physical mental resolve. So, we’re practicing different this week to create that. It’s not a one, two, they all want it. They got to know how to do it and it’s our job as coaches to create an environment where it’s happening every day in practice. Let’s start really hammering home what it looks like when it’s excellent and that’s the job of the coaches from here on out.”

— Jacob Zeno will not be unseated as the starting quarterback anytime soon but it’s always good to have a backup plan. Following two weeks of camp and a live scrimmage, Louisiana Tech transfer Landry Lyddy and Harrison Barker have separated themselves from the rest of a pack that includes Ole Miss transfer Trace Campbell and JUCO incomer Carter Putt. Zeno and Lyddy are receiving the majority of reps while Barker is signaling from the sideline.

“It’s been really good. We got some good ones and they’ve gotten a lot better, Landry and Harrison, specifically. They’re getting the bulk of the two’s reps and they’re different players getting better at what they’re doing. It’s such a big job. They’re getting better but they have so far to go. They’ll be the first to tell you that.”

— The offensive line appears to be set with its starting five but the coaching staff would like to see more progress from its second team and contributors to ensure a solid eight to nine-man rotation. Tennessee transfer Will Parker has a lock on left tackle, along with Trey Bedosky at right tackle and Quez Yates at right guard, and Brady Wilson is set to take over full-time center duties. Redshirt freshman Luke Jones has impressed the most in taking control of the left guard position following Zaire Flournoy’s season-ending injury in the spring.

The second team currently employs, from left to right, Tennyson Hadfield, Brennan Moran, Adam Lepkowski, Jalen Nettles and Tater Reid, although the latter has been spotted receiving treatment. Hadfield and Moran have been the most impressive of the bunch and have pushed to be included in the rotation.

“A lot of guys playing a lot of positions. We want versatility on the offensive line and not just learning in a funnel. We’ll settle into a true rotation probably in the middle of next week but right now they’re all over the place.”

— Senior place kicker Matt Quinn has not participated in any drills during fall camp while nursing an injury. Dilfer, for his part, freely admitted to holding Quinn back from kicking duties so there are no setbacks before the season. True freshman Jonah Delange, a Mobile native and Davidson alum, has received all reps this preseason and performed well considering his inexperience on the college level.

“He’s (Delange) done a nice shop. Matt is building into this thing, a lot of his timeline has been my timeline, and I’ve told him, ‘I don’t need to see you kick anytime soon. I’ve seen you since you were an eighth grader, you’re pretty good at this.’ So, his health is paramount and what he’s going through isn’t major, but it’s enough to where we want to be cautious with it.”

— No matter the actual starter of any game, running backs Jermaine Brown Jr. and Isaiah Jacobs are primed to lead a stacked backfield this season. In what may be the single deepest position group for the Blazers, Brown and Jacobs are the primary ball carriers but Lee Witherspoon and Demetrius Battle are set for contributing roles this year. Redshirt freshmen Taven Curry and Lee Beebe are still young but showcased their ability in both facets of the offense during the spring game.