A week since being benched, junior quarterback Spencer Keith has been named the starting quarterback for Saturday’s game.

After throwing an interception that was returned by a defensive lineman for a touchdown last weekend in Northern Illinois, Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell yanked Keith and put in freshman quarterback Cedric McCloud. The two quarterbacks have been competing for the starting job in this week’s practices.

Hazell said he made his decision to select the starting quarterback based on how well they took care of the football and ran the offense.

After Wednesday’s practice, Hazell had said both quarterbacks were greatly improving at running the offense because of the competition.

“The competition is greatly improving their command of the huddle,” Hazell said. “Somehow the competition has affected that most.”

Even though Hazell named Keith the starter, Hazell said earlier whoever he names is not guaranteed to play every offensive series or guaranteed to start the next game.

“This will be a competition for some time,” Hazell said.

According to the Record-Courier, Hazell said he was making some adjustments at the wide receiver position.

Senior wide receiver Chris Gilbert will start for junior wide receiver Matt Hurdle, and freshman running back Robert Holloman to wide receiver to backup junior wide receiver Eric Adeyemi.

As for the offensive line that has played a major role in the Flashes’ mere 171-yards-per-game, which is statistically last in NCAA Division I Football, Hazell has made no changes. He believes keeping the line as is will benefit the team more than making more personnel changes.

Hazell said he believes him and his coaching staff have made the necessary adjustments against a team that knows Kent State’s offense better than anyone, for former Kent State defensive coordinator Pete Rekstis now stands on the opposite sideline with the same title for the Miami RedHawks.

Hazell said in Monday’s press conference he would call in players who knew Rekstis’ style best and learn what he likes to call in certain situations “because we are all creatures of habit, and when certain situations arise, we are going to go back to those calls.”

The kickoff for the Homecoming Game between Miami (1-4) and Kent State (1-5) is scheduled for today at 3:30 p.m. at Dix Stadium. Follow the live blog of the game on the KentWired homepage.

-AJ Atkinsno