A quarterback battle looms as Washington State opens spring football drills on Thursday.

Veteran Connor Halliday was a part-time starter last year, along with the graduated Jeff Tuel. Coach Mike Leach says he'll face a challenge from redshirt freshman Austin Apodaca.

Leach returns eight starters each on offense and defense this season. But he said Wednesday that all the starting jobs are open in the spring.

In all the Cougars have 43 returning letter winners from a team that finished 3-8 overall, 1-8 in the Pac-12 in Leach's first season in Pullman. Their only league win was over archrival Washington in overtime in the Apple Cup.

Spring drills will include 15 practices and run until April 23. The annual Crimson and Gray scrimmage will be April 20 in Spokane.