HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Brian Anderson never knows when his coach will call his name.

He does know he will be ready when it happens.

Anderson likely will be named Marshall's backup quarterback today, when Thundering Herd Coach Mark Snyder is expected to release his season-opening depth chart.

Mark Cann probably will be No. 1, followed by Anderson and Jonathan Garner at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.

"I think that's one of the reasons that all three of us are getting so many reps right now," Anderson said during preseason practice. "You never know when somebody -- God forbid -- is going to get hurt in a game.

"You definitely need a No. 2 (quarterback) to come in there and be able to execute the offense as well as the No. 1 (quarterback) would."

Anderson learned how difficult that can be last year.

Anderson started Marshall's 48-35 loss to Division I-AA New Hampshire in place of three-year starter Bernard Morris, who had a nagging case of turf toe in the week leading up to the game.

Anderson completed 7-of-14 passes for 58 yards with no touchdowns and an interception while the Wildcats built a 24-0 halftime lead.

Snyder replaced Anderson with Morris late in the second quarter. The veteran quarterback completed 31-of-42 passes for a career-high 417 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, but it was too little, too late.

Snyder was tight-lipped on the quarterback competition throughout preseason practice, giving media members few revealing comments about it or its participants.

He and offensive coordinator John Shannon provided each of the quarterbacks with plenty of repetitions and, as a result, plenty of opportunities to show what they can do.

Cann, Anderson and Garner constantly watched each other, noting mistakes and offering tips.

"If one of us messes up, the other two are on the sideline telling him what he did wrong, just like a coach," said Anderson, who noted that the quarterbacks are friends who trust each other and look to each other for help. "We really confide in each other."

Even as a backup, Anderson enters 2008 as the Thundering Herd's most experienced quarterback.

Anderson, a 6-foot-3, 217-pound sophomore, appeared in five games last season, completing 12-of-28 passes for 94 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns.

Wesley Beardain, a 6-1, 208-pound junior who ranks fourth on the depth chart, played in one game last year, completing 1-of-2 passes for 10 yards with no scores or picks.

Cann, a 6-4, 238-pound redshirt freshman, and Garner, a 6-4, 219-pound junior who transferred from Georgia Tech, sat out 2007. Cann never has played a down at this level. Garner misfired on the only attempt in his college career, which he threw in Georgia Tech's 38-6 home win over Samford in 2006.

"You know, I have been pleasantly surprised," said Snyder, whose team will open the season Saturday when it plays host to Illinois State at 4:30 p.m. (WOWK in Charleston-Huntington, WVNS in Beckley-Bluefield and WBOY in Clarksburg) at Edwards Stadium. "Obviously, we're going to have a new quarterback. These kids have some moxie about them."

Snyder said Shannon and defensive coordinator Rick Minter have "really heated them up."

"I think they have handled it," Snyder said. "What we felt might be a weak link for us, I'm not so sure that that's going to be the case. I have been pretty impressed.

"Again, we'll wait and see when the lights go on how these guys perform. But thus far they have handle the pressure cooker we have tried to put them under."

Training camp ended Friday, but Anderson and his counterparts plan to treat their practice repetitions the same way.

"Even throughout the season, you just have to go out there and give it all you can and see if you get your opportunity out on the field," Anderson said. "Whether you go in at the end of the game when we're winning by a lot or losing by a lot, you always have to prepare like you're going into the game every week. That's just the way you have to prepare for it."

"We definitely all have to be on our 'A' games at all times," Garner added, "because we could be put in the game in any situation whether it be first string or backup. We all have to be prepared to go in there and play to the best of our ability."

Although their coaches have decided on a starter, the quarterbacks said they will continue to push each other each week.

"Even as a backup, you have to be as prepared as a starter if you want to be an effective backup," Garner said. "That, in turn, helps the person in front of you, which only helps the team."

Contact sports writer Jacob Messer at jacobmes...@dailymail.com or 304-348-1712. His blog is at blogs.dailymail.com/marshall.