Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner went through it. So did Chris Streveler. It's not easy being a Big Ten quarterback in spring practice, when you could still be getting ready for your high school prom.

Dimonic Roden-McKinzy is the latest Gophers quarterback to graduate from high school a semester early and enroll at the University in January instead of September.

I promised myself I wouldn't overanalyze Roden-McKinzy this spring after hearing Nelson and Leidner talk about how lost they felt their first spring, and after watching Streveler look pretty lost last spring. All of these guys are bright kids. But there is so much to learn.

The first thing you notice about Roden-McKinzy is his height. The Kansas City native is listed at 6-foot, but I think that's giving him an inch. He looks about five inches shorter than the 6-4 Leidner. Of course, Johnny Manziel wasn't quite 6-foot either, and he was a pretty decent college quarterback.

In the passing drills, Roden-McKinzy has shown a nice touch. Leidner's passes seem to have more zip, but Roden-McKinzy can get it there, too. The arm action is free and easy. I'm slipping back into baseball analysis here, but that was always a good sign with pitchers when they had "easy cheese," good velocity without maximum effort.

Roden-McKinzy also looks like he'll be plenty nimble as a dual-threat quarterback. I think passing is his strength, but he'll be able to pull it down and run, too. He's listed at 214 pounds, so he's plenty sturdy. The Gophers have done a little 11-on-11 stuff, but it'll be tough to get a full read on Roden-McKinzy's abilities until they start scrimmaging after spring break.

"He's really coming along," Streveler said. "I think he's doing better than I did my first spring. And I told him that. I think he's just picking it up a little faster than I did and throwing well. I think everyone's happy with how he's doing."

Streveler has come a long way since last spring, so if I had to bet, I'd say he'll be the No. 2 quarterback, with Conor Rhoda at No. 3. Rhoda has impressed me, too, and this should allow the Gophers to redshirt Roden-McKinzy and incoming Roseville recruit Jacques Perra.

"I feel good about the quarterbacks play in general, I really do," Coach Jerry Kill said after the team's fourth spring practice. "Every one of them has made a mistake here and there, but not like in the past. They're making good decisions."

Note: The Gophers will hold Spring Practice No. 5 on Thursday at 4 p.m. They aren't scheduled to practice again until March 25. All spring practices are open to the public.