As Kentucky goes through spring football drills, inquiring fans want to know: Who will succeed Andre Woodson as starting quarterback?

Andre Woodson, All-Southeastern Conference and UK's Most Valuable Player last season, is bound for the NFL. He led the Wildcats to back-to-back Music City Bowl championships, throwing for 3,709 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior.

The candidates to take his job are, in order listed on the depth chart: Curtis Pulley, Mike Hartline, Will Fidler and Tyler Sargent.

Coach Rich Brooks says it's possible that incoming freshmen could further cloud the picture when they report. Randall Cobb, DeAunte Mason and Matt Roark all are listed as 'quarterback/athlete.'

As Pulley can attest, nothing is certain this time of year.

Two springs ago, he beat out Woodson for the starting job. By the time the season opened, Pulley fell into disfavor and Woodson took charge.

Brooks says he's hopeful someone will take charge this spring and win the starting job.

'But I hope it isn't because the other guy isn't doing it very well at all,' Brooks said. 'I hope there's a very, very good competition, and I think there will be.'

Frustrated by a lack of playing time in 2006 and struggling with academics, Pulley left school for last year's spring semester.

By fall, he was back on the team as a redshirt, and would later be named UK's most valuable scout team player.

'I used to think football was all that mattered,' he said. 'Now I know that football's not going to last forever. You need that education.'

Ask Pulley what he needs to do to ensure that he'll be the starter this time and it's clear that he realizes that the job is not yet won.

'Just keep working and kind of show the players that I am going to do better than the last time,' Pulley said. 'I can't take anything for granted.'

A fourth-year junior, Pulley served as backup quarterback, part-time wide receiver and a kick-block specialist during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Even if Pulley wins the job in spring, he'll have to keep it. That means not only paying attention to football assignments, but also classwork.

'I'm going to take a couple summer classes, a couple makeup courses,' he said. 'So it's going to be pretty good.'

While Andre Woodson is a drop-back passer, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Pulley is more of a Kordell Stewart-type performer, always dangerous when he leaves the pocket.

Sitting out last season was tough, he said, but he's better off now. Emotionally, physically and simply having a better grasp of the playbook, how to study film and knowing how to manage a game.

After a winter of conditioning and polishing techniques, Pulley said he feels more excitement than pressure now.

'I've just been thinking about this a lot, this situation, getting back out here and showing everybody that I can lead the team,' he said after Wednesday's opening workout. 'And to prove to myself that I can still do it after taking some time off.'

While Pulley was watching last fall, Hartline was groomed further as Woodson's backup.

Now a 6-6, 201-pound redshirt sophomore, Hartline made four cameo appearances, completing four of six passes for 34 yards.

More in Woodson's drop-back style than Pulley, Hartline said he learned 'by osmosis' on the bench.

'Just sit there and watch. And I think I do that very well. If I sit there and watch something for so long, I can understand why he's doing that, why he's moving this way, why he's throwing there.'

The area that most sets Pulley apart from the competition is his ability to run.

Hartline thinks his special quality is communication.

'I connect with the guys a lot more on the field,' he said. 'When I'm out there, they have a guy that they can trust, and realize that I can take them down the field and you'll score. They have nothing to worry about.'

Brooks added to the mix by noting that Fidler, a 6-4, 220-pound redshirt sophomore, 'threw the ball much better than I anticipated, coming off of a shoulder surgery.' So perhaps the No. 1 job will be a three-man race.

Fidler, also a pocket passer, says his right shoulder was 'pretty sore' after Wednesday's opening drills. Not that he's worried.

'I've got to build up the stamina I had beforehand,' Fidler said. 'And Wednesday I probably took it a little too far and went a little overboard because it was the first day that I've thrown. I've just got to get the feel back.'

What coaches will be looking for, Brooks said, includes mechanics, throws and 'how quickly they make their decisions; whether they can get us out of bad plays and into good plays; and, then, the production -- are they going to make more good plays

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