Backup Siemian pushing Colter Trevor Siemi

Trevor Siemian won’t concede Northwestern’s starting quarterback job to Kain Colter.

“I’m trying to be a starter,” Siemian said. “It’d be crazy for any quarterback to say they don’t want to be. I’m competing, and at the end of the day the coaches will decide what’s best for this team.”

Colter adopted the same attitude last fall and started the opener at Boston College because of a setback in Dan Persa’s Achilles tendon rehab.

Barring an odd development, Colter will get the call Sept. 1 at Syracuse. He’s a far better runner and has more experience.

But no one will be surprised if Siemian plays. By completing 16 of 26 passes for 256 yards last season, he actually posted a higher passer rating (174.6) than Colter (157.7) and Persa (154.8).

“He can make all the throws,” NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We have 1a and 1b, two very good QBs. That’s encouraging.”

The 6-foot-3 Siemian, a redshirt sophomore, said he spent the summer “lifting and eating as much as I can.” He’s up to 210 pounds.

Said Fitzgerald: “When he came in, he was a little pencil neck. He found the weight room and is getting stronger and more athletic, more powerful when he runs.”

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mick McCall said the next step for Siemian is “having command of the offense and being a threat to run. He’s not Kain, but he’s a threat. Like Zack [Oliver, the third-stringer]. They’re not slow, stiff guys back there. They can move around and make plays.”

Siemian file

Hometown: Windermere, Fla.

Position: Quarterback

Year: Redshirt sophomore

Ht./Wt.: 6-3, 210

FYI: Holds Orange County (Fla.) County records of 6,144 passing yards and 53 TDs in 3-year career at Olympia High School. … Named Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2009 after throwing for 2.494 yards and 24 TDs. … Played in 8 games as backup QB in 2011, completing 16-of-26 passes for 256 yards and 3 TDs.