LAFAYETTE, La. (The Daily Advertiser) – It was no huge surprise.

Since the official announcement that former LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings was transferring to the UL Ragin’ Cajuns, many expected the Marietta, Georgia, native to begin the season as the starting quarterback.

After Tuesday’s practice, UL coach Mark Hudspeth eliminated all doubt by revealing that Jennings will indeed begin the Cajuns’ 2016 campaign as the No. 1 quarterback.

“All three quarterbacks competed well and played with a lot of effort,” Hudspeth said. “Anthony was just a little ahead.”

Jennings, who didn’t throw a pass last season for the Tigers, last saw time in the regular season during the 2014 season. In 13 games that year, he was an 111-of-227 passer (48.9) for 1,611 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

In 2013, Jennings hit on 13 of 29 passes (44.8) for 181 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“I think he’s a really good player,” LSU coach Les Miles said Tuesday. “He’s a very talented guy. He’s had a lot of experiences here. He had a very good high school career. We root for him, and we wish him well.”

Despite Jennings’ history of low completion percentages, Hudspeth said the thing that’s surprised him the most about Jennings thus far has been his accuracy.

“I haven’t seen that (accuracy issues underneath),” Hudspeth said. “He’s throwing the ball exceptionally well right now.

“I didn’t know he was such a good passer. He throws an excellent ball; he’s got a strong arm, and he’s got the quickest release I’ve ever seen.”

Jennings didn’t arrive in Lafayette to join the program until just prior to August practice, and yet Hudspeth said the 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback has shown a good grasp of UL’s new offense.

“His big-play ability (separated him),” Hudspeth said. “He has a big arm. He throws it pretty well. He’s picked up the offense quickly. He’s showed his maturity and his work ethic.”

Hudspeth said offensive coordinator Jorge Munoz met with each quarterback and told them the news, although it was pretty apparent to the entire team for the past two days with Jennings taking the bulk of the snaps with the first unit.

“They were disappointed,” Hudspeth said of reactions by Jalen Nixon and Jordan Davis to the official news. “No quarterback gets that news and says, ‘Hey, awesome.’ Those guys are competitors, but they’re going to support each other. All of those guys spend an awful lot of time together and are going to support each other.”

Hudspeth said his teammates challenged the newcomer quarterback in the early going and Jennings responded. After all, when Jennings had arrived, the rest of the team had just completed grueling summer workouts and the newcomer quarterback had not.

“The first couple of days (of practice), they definitely challenged him a little bit,” Hudspeth said. “They put him through a little adversity to see how he would respond. He earned their respect. He showed them that he has a very good work ethic.”

Hudspeth explained that Jennings began August practice sessions with fresh legs, then hit a wall and has since bounced back to where he needs to be physically with the team’s first game week less than a week away.

Hudspeth declined to say if Nixon or Davis would officially be the No. 2 quarterback in the Boise State season opener, indicating that they were both No. 2 quarterbacks at this point.

“Jordan will continue to work hard,” he said. “He had a really good scrimmage.”

Earlier this month, Hudspeth said Nixon would serve as the goal line quarterback in short-yardage situations. For his career at UL, Nixon has completed 83 of 155 passes(53.5) for 937 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

Davis, meanwhile, played in three games in 2015, completing 26 of 41 passes for 256 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions The 6-3, 205-pounder also had 21 carries for 29 yards and a score.