Adam Barmann has not been named Kansas University’s starting quarterback, but it sounds as if the job is his to lose.

“We want to get everybody a look early on,” Kansas offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro said. “That’s important to get everybody involved. There’s no doubt Adam will get a lot of work as the No. 1 guy. He deserves that. We have to get him ready to go out and help us win games.”

KU football players will report to preseason camp today, and Barmann (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) will be at the top of the depth chart when the Jayhawks open camp with a closed practice at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s Adam’s job, and yet we want competition,” Quartaro said. “I’d be hard-pressed to say it’s wide open like it was in the spring. We have to establish a pecking order.”

Barmann started three games in place of injured starter Bill Whittemore last fall as a true freshman, and he emerged as the leading candidate to replace Whittemore after spring drills.

Junior-college transfer Jason Swanson (6-0, 190) struggled in the spring, but the junior has had a full summer of workouts and seven-on-seven drills to improve his consistency as well as learn KU’s offense.

Junior Brian Luke (6-6, 225) enters camp as the No. 3 quarterback.

“We encourage competition,” Quartaro said. “That makes everybody better. We want Jason and Brian to challenge Adam.”

Barmann passed for 564 yards and four touchdowns in four games last season. Swanson passed for 3,652 yards and 27 touchdowns in two seasons at City College of San Francisco, despite missing part of his sophomore season because of an elbow injury.

Swanson wasn’t the only quarterback in the recruiting class. Freshman Marcus Herford (6-3, 205 from DeSoto, Texas) impressed strength and conditioning coach Chris Dawson during summer workouts.

“There’s no pressure or expectations for him,” Quartaro said of Herford. “But we’d be crazy not to give him a look just to see the caliber of player we recruited. After a couple of days, we’ll get into a rotation.”

Herford split time at quarterback and receiver as a senior last fall. He passed for 866 yards and nine touchdowns, rushed for 386 yards and five TDs and had 304 receiving yards and one score.

Quartaro said Herford “has the speed of a wide receiver or defensive back.

“I’ve been impressed with his businesslike attitude, his ability to take on responsibilities and his work ethic with coach Dawson. He’s a pretty intense kid.”

KU will open the season Sept. 4 against Tulsa. Kickoff will be 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.