After the season ended last year in a loss to Charlotte Latin in the NCISAA Division I championship game, Charlotte Christian football player Simms McElfresh started wondering who would take over at quarterback the next year.

Starter John Kincaid was graduating, as was one of his backups, Jake Watson. Another backup, Sam Dexter, was more important to the defense, said coach Jason Estep. He didn't want Dexter playing offense, too.

"I think with playing quarterback at Charlotte Christian, there's a lot of responsibility to be prepared, and you're better off being just a one-sided guy, not a two-way guy," said Estep.

The job fell to McElfresh, a former wide receiver for the Knights. McElfresh will start in Friday's home game against Concord First Assembly (1-0), the reigning N.C. Division II private school state champion coached by former Carolina Panthers star Mike Minter. Christian won the 2008 Division I championship.

McElfresh "is by far the most athletic guy we have on this team, without a doubt," Estep said. "He's fast, he's explosive, he has like a 36-inch vertical leap. ... I think probably any coach in my position would do the same thing that I did."

McElfresh said he found out soon after the season ended last year that he would get the role, and he started working almost immediately.

"I'm excited, but at the same time I'm a little worried," said McElfresh. "I want to play receiver in college, so I was kind of worried about how that would be, but I realized it would be a great thing for the team because we need someone to do it. I'm more than happy to step up for the team and do that."

The transition process started in the winter, with McElfresh watching a lot of film, "just trying to get his mind to wrap around, 'OK, what am I really doing back here?'" said Estep.

In the spring, McElfresh started learning the basics, like where to hold the ball, and footwork. He continued working through the summer and into fall training camp.

"It was like throwing a whole ton of stuff at me," said McElfresh. "I always used to just do routes, defense, stuff like that. Now I have to know what the line's doing and what the receivers are doing and what coverages (the defenders) are running."

Estep said there is a large learning curve with the position and that McElfresh has a long way to go, but that he does bring a combination to the position that Charlotte Christian hasn't had in while - speed and athleticism.

In his first game last week, McElfresh helped Christian to a 14-13 win against Carolina Pride. McElfresh seemed more comfortable running the ball, gaining 69 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown. He completed seven of his 16 passes for 52 yards and one interception.

"At the end of the day, I think the greatest thing he can rely on is his feet," Estep said. "If all else fails, his feet are going to be able to make plays for us."