SURREY, B.C. — A six-game audition was enough to earn Jonathon Jennings a new contract with the B.C. Lions.
The CFL club inked the 23-year-old to a new deal through 2018 on Thursday, rewarding the quarterback for his strong play while also avoiding what could have turned into a major training camp distraction.
Jennings rocketed up the depth chart last season after injuries to veterans Travis Lulay and John Beck, and was slotted into No. 1 job heading into 2016 despite still being on a rookie agreement that paid him a fraction of what top quarterbacks in the league earn.
The new contract puts any possible friction neatly to bed before the Lions gather in Kamloops, B.C., at the end of the month.
"This was extremely important," said head coach and general manager Wally Buono. "We want camp to be about football. We don’t want camp to be about other things."
Jennings said it was always his plan to be in Kamloops regardless of his contractual status, but admitted that getting a deal done now allows him to focus solely on the field.
"I didn’t feel like I was going to hold out," said the Saginaw Valley State product. "That would not have been good for anyone, but I’m glad that there was a mutual respect on both sides.
"I had a lot of faith in Wally. He prides himself on doing the right thing. I was very grateful for that."
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jennings finished with a 3-3 record in six regular-season starts in 2015, completing 66 per cent of his passes for 2,004 yards with 15 touchdowns against 10 interceptions before getting injured in the Lions’ playoff loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
Buono said the small statistical sample size was taken into account when assessing whether to tear up the old contract, but added he had seen enough to justify the move and give his Jennings some peace of mind.
"The right thing to do was put Jonathon in a better financial position," said Buono. "What we’re asking him to do, what his responsibilities are going to be, is going to be big.
"To help him feel good about his contract, for us to feel good about our future, and to make sure when we go to training camp the only focus is football, I think everybody’s a winner."
Numbers aside, it was Jennings’ poise in the pocket and even keel under pressure that was perhaps the most impressive aspect of his first season.
"Where his ceiling is, none of us know," said Buono. "I do know that he takes it seriously, he prepares well, he prepares hard, he stays humble and he’s got tremendous athletic skills."
For his part, Jennings said he understands there will be more pressure and more eyes on him.
"If you don’t perform in professional ball, or professional sports in general, then you’re not going to be there," he said. "I expect big things out of myself."
Lulay remains on the roster along with fellow quarterbacks Greg McGhee, who dressed for 10 games last season, and Keith Price, signed in the off-season from the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Jennings and Lulay have been close since training camp last season when they roomed together despite the fact that the former overtook the latter on the depth chart.
"All the guys in our quarterback room are going to be capable of playing," said Jennings. "We’re all capable of playing this game at a high level. We’re going to do our best to build each other up."
The Lions finished a disappointing 7-11 in 2015 before getting bounced in the playoffs, and Buono said that while Jennings is the starter heading into camp, nothing is ever set in stone.
"He knows it’s going to be a tough competition, but tough competitions don’t have to be adversarial," said Buono. "If we want to improve this football team, I guarantee you that every quarterback that dresses for the B.C. Lions is going to have to help us win."