Quarterback Henry Lau knows he needs to do a better job of reading defenses.

The University of Mary junior will get the opportunity to improve in that area as the Marauders opened spring football practice on Sunday.

"I need to be able to recognize defenses,"said Lau, a 6-foot-5, 238-pounder from Menomonee Falls, Wis. "I need to recognize them easier and sooner. Last year I struggled with that."

Lau, who was a backup to Jesse Kozak last fall, enters spring football as the top quarterback.

Rob Gibson, a redshirt sophomore from West Fargo, and Joey Bollinger, a redshirt freshman from Seattle, will be the other two taking snaps with Lau.

Justin English, a sophomore from Cooper City, Fla., has been moved to the defensive secondary as a safety.

Even though Lau was used as a backup last year, he still got his share of playing time. Lau started two games and appeared in six.

He completed 72 of 142 passes for 853 yards and six touchdowns. He threw three picks.

U-Mary coach Myron Schulz has noticed a new comfort level in Lau as the team opened spring football.

Lau, who transferred to U-Mary last year in time for spring football, has fully grasped the team's system and has developed chemistry with his teammates.

"He feels comfortable with our scheme,"Schulz said. "Last year it was him and Jesse, and now he views himself as the top guy. When he came in last year he was still feeling out his new digs."

Lau confirmed that he is feeling more confident this spring.

"I'm much more comfortable with everything this spring," he said. "A lot more than I was in the fall. I know the plays, and I have chemistry with the guys."

Schulz saw Lau and the receivers running routes on their own time after the season concluded. Schulz also likes the relationship Lau has built with his offensive linemen. Lau lived with linemen L.T. Brown and Nick Thornton-Jack during the summer.

Lau said he built good chemistry with receiver Brady Martin toward the end of last season. Martin will miss spring football because of mononucleosis.

"This gives me a good chance to get chemistry with other receivers," Lau said. "I trust the linemen a lot. I feel good with all of them coming back and being with them."

Gibson, a transfer from Minnesota-Duluth, will be used in several different ways. In addition to quarterback, Gibson will also serve as a receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner.

Bollinger attended the same high school as Thornton-Jack in Seattle.

"He's a tremendous athlete," Schulz said. "He's a coach's son."

Schulz said English approached him about moving into the defensive secondary.

"It better suits his skills," Schulz said. "It's something that's new, so he will be out of his comfort zone for awhile. But he's an athletic kid and he's physical."