LORMAN &045; Like anything else so far for the true freshman, Tony Hobson took his less-than-stellar debut to college football in stride.

His first pass ever wearing a college uniform landed in the hands of the other team. On his very first play, no less.

But that’s OK. It could have been worse. The other team could have returned it for a touchdown before a blocker put him staring straight up in the sky.

Those things, as quarterbacks know too well, happen.

Now Bozeman has acclimated himself not only to the collegiate level but the starting quarterback position for Alcorn. He got his first start last week in a 38-3 loss at Alabama State and could wind up taking all the snaps at quarterback Saturday when the Braves host Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

That’s because the Braves moved Oliver Bozeman &045; the heir apparent after last season to take over at QB &045; to wide receiver.

&uot;I went into that (first) game expecting to play,&uot; Bozeman said of his pick thrown against Southeastern Louisiana. &uot;My first play I threw a pick. That’s not the way I wanted to start out. Other than that, things went pretty good. It was good to get the experience. It feels good to be the starter right now, and I’ve got a lot of things to work on to get the offense down.&uot;

Coaches liked Bozeman as soon as they signed him in February out of Jim Hill High School in Jackson. They liked his arm strength, his ability to lead an offense and his potential with his work ethic and positive attitude.

They made the move a day after the Langston game, one where Bozeman got the start at quarterback before being yanked after fumbling the snap. Hobson entered near the end of the first half and later engineered a scoring drive and connected with Charlie Spiller on the offense’s first long pass connection of the season.

Hobson got the start against Alabama State, but the offense struggled against a good defense and he completed 9 of 23 passes for 93 yards with two interceptions.

&uot;We have committed to Tony Hobson at the quarterback position,&uot; Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. &uot;Tony has just got to work. He missed those 2 ? weeks, and I wonder what he would be if he hadn’t missed that. He’d be farther along, and we’d be farther along as a football team and an offensive unit. He’s watching film, and we’re trying to let him get in there and do what he’s supposed to do.&uot;

Coaches moved Hobson there in the hopes of waking up a dormant passing game and adding a playmaker like Bozeman to the receiving corps. It’s the only element missing in an offense that is leading the conference in rushing thanks to an offensive line that’s downright bullish with five players 300 pounds or better.

And it’s almost un-Alcorn-like not to have an explosive passing game after doing it so well the last two seasons.

&uot;We’re dangerous,&uot; offensive tackle Jonathan Lowe said of the unit’s potential. &uot;We can run the ball with anybody in the league. We have to be able to pass the football and protect Tony Hobson. Tony Hobson is a freshman, and they’re going to blitz him. It’s very important he feels comfortable. Once he feels comfortable, I think we’ll be one of the teams to reckon with down the line.&uot;

Bozeman’s move out wide is new for the speedy 6-4 standout, who never played the position on a regular basis in his career. Yet when coaches pitched the idea to him a day after the Langston game, he was open to it.

Practices started Tuesday for him at the new position, and coaches hope he’ll pick up some of the slack following the season-ending injury to Nate Hughes.

&uot;There are things I’ve got to work on like running routes and blocking, but I’ll be all right,&uot; Bozeman said. &uot;It doesn’t really matter (to me) &045; I’m trying to get to the next level. I’ll play it. I like the position. We’ve really got some big things planned for the rest of the season. I just need the ball in my hands.&uot;

The position isn’t totally new for Bozeman, who at times last season would line up wide on the Braves’ first possession of each game when the offense would use different formations. On Saturday he caught two passes for 15 yards.

&uot;That’s a good fit for Oliver Bozeman,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;Bozeman is a multi-talented wide receiver. He could play wide receiver or defensive back. He plays very fast, and he can catch the football very well. He just had to get acclimated to that dual role. He caught some key passes against Alabama State and made some key runs. We’re going to give him the football.&uot;

The underlying benefit in the move, Hobson noted, is now the Braves will often have two quarterbacks on the field. Showtime is one thing at the start of the game, but they have more options now with both on the field.

With Bozeman, a solid running game, a bullish line and an established playmaker in Charlie Spiller at receiver, there’s little pressure on the freshman quarterback to feel he has to win games.

All Hobson has to do, as coaches say, is perhaps manage it.

&uot;Everything starts with the line,&uot; Hobson said. &uot;All of those guys up front are doing theire job. They don’t get the credit they deserve in the papers, but they do their job. Bozeman is great at quarterback and receiver. He’s been a great leader for me. The running backs are taking a lot of pressure off me. I’ve got to step up and learn the speed of the game, and I’m picking up on that.&uot;