BEAUMONT — BEAUMONT — Andre Bevil’s name is penciled at the top of the quarterback listings on Lamar’s University’s depth chart for good reason.

    Make that for many good reasons, according to Todd Whitten, Lamar’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

    “Andre is a really intelligent, self-motivated sort who takes well to instructions,” said Whitten. “He has good vision. He’s an accurate passer. He has good presence in the pocket. He’s quick on his feet, and it helps him extend plays. If the protection breaks down, he can make something positive with his feet.”

    When Bevil trots out for Lamar’s first offensive series against McNeese State at Cowboy Field Saturday night, he’ll be under fire for the first time since late November of 2008. That was when Navorro College , which he helped lead to a 10-1 record and No. 5 ranking in the final National Junior College Athletic AssociationFootball.com poll, played Blinn College in the Southwest JC Football Conference championship game.

    “I’m definitely ready to get back into the rhythm of playing against other teams instead of just going against my teammates in controlled scrimmages,” said Bevil, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior, who starred locally at West Orange-Stark. “I think we’re going to have a pretty good passing game.

    “Our outside receivers — Marcus Jackson and J.J. Hayes in particular — have been going up and getting the ball in our practices and our scrimmages. Our inside receivers — guys like Josh Powdrill — have also been playing great.

    “The receivers have been making big-time plays and making me look good. I also think the running game is going to be just as good as the passing game. Octavious Logan has been running the ball well, and Cody Hussey is coming along well as his backup.”

    Bevil, who completed 65 percent of his attempts and passed for 1,062 yards and eight touchdowns, while operating Navarro’s run-oriented offense in 2008, showed his potential in the Cardinals’ spring game and in their final scrimmage of fall camp on Aug. 21.

    He completed eight of 17 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in the Spring Game, and he went 14-for-24 for 221 yards and two TDs in the fall scrimmage.

    “Since the McNeese game is going to be Andre’s first really live action since junior college, we don’t want to ask him to do too much too quick,” said Whitten. “He progressed remarkably well during our spring and fall practices, and he has a much better understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish with the offense.

    “After he gets a couple of games under his belt, I think you’ll see him making even more progress. His physical skills are valuable to our team, and his leadership skills are just as valuable. The other players have a lot of confidence in him.”

    Bevil, who completed 125 or 195 passes (.641 percentage) for 2,069 yards during his senior season of 2006 at WO-S, was quick to compliment his teammates in the offensive line.

    “Everything offensively starts up front with the linemen,” said Bevil. “Without those guys doing their jobs us backs and receivers wouldn’t get a lot going. We’re getting a good feel for staying on the same page with each other.

    “A big key in football games is turnovers. We want to stay away from those things. We can’t avoid them totally, but there are things we can do to limit the interceptions and the fumbles.

    “Of course, we’re looking forward to our defense forcing turnovers and getting the ball back for us. Then it’ll be our goal to be greedy and keep the ball away from the other guys.”

    Redshirt freshmen Doug Prewitt and Harrison Tatum, also products of area high schools, are battling for backup duties behind the more experienced Bevil. Prewitt is a 5-11, 170-pouder from Beaumont Kelly, and the 6-2, 205-pound Tatum is from Port Neches-Groves.

    Prewitt threw for 2,577 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading Kelly to a 9-1 record during his senior season, and Tatum passed for 1,024 yards in PN-G’s run-oriented offense during his final year.