VALDOSTA — The 2007 Division II national champions started their final week of spring football practice Monday, trying to build towards a repeat performance this fall.

The Valdosta State football team has been busy on the field for the last four weeks, working to bring both new players and veterans up to speed and work on conditioning.

After a run to the national championship last year, VSU starts its second-ever title defense without several seniors from the 2007 squad, but also with a strong group of veterans.

Chief among the spots left vacant by a graduating senior is quarterback. Willie Copeland was the starter behind center for the last two seasons, and leaves a pivotal hole to fill in the Blazers’ spread offense.

Currently four players are competing for the job — Tucker Pruitt, Russ Callaway, Chris Hart and Blake Fields. According to VSU’s head coach, all four have played well, but none of them has pulled to the forefront.

“There is good competition at the position,” VSU head coach David Dean said. “All of them are stepping up each day, now we need one to step up to the forefront.”

A good time for that ascension will be Saturday during VSU’s annual Spring Game. The game will begin at 1 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

Pruitt and Callaway each saw limited playing time in 2007, with Hart redshirting his freshman year and playing with the junior varsity squad.

As far as knowing the system, those three have a leg up, with Dean saying Callaway had a good week of practice last week. Pruitt brings the most experience, and Hart has been playing well, despite being able to attend a full practice session on just Fridays and Saturdays, due to class scheduling.

Fields is the wildcard, a transfer from Auburn with a big arm and a strong leadership quality.

“We need a quarterback to step up Saturday and lead the team,” Dean said.

The quarterbacks, along with the rest of the team, will be split up Thursday, as VSU holds its second annual spring draft to determine teams for Saturday’s scrimmage.

Other players who can be seen at the scrimmage who have had quality springs thus far are transfer Chris Fultcher, a tight end and wide receiver, Cecil Hill and Demario Jones at linebacker.

“We have a lot of new faces and redshirts who have been stepping up,” Dean said. “It gives us the opportunity to evaluate more.”