LSU has developed a different kind of quarterback problem.

For a while, the Tigers’ problem was that they couldn’t attract well-regarded quarterback recruits.

Now they’re having trouble keeping the ones they get.

The number of scholarship quarterbacks on the team shrunk in half when Lowell Narcisse and Justin McMillan announced within hours of one another that they were leaving the program.

Coach Ed Orgeron has maintained through the summer and the early part of preseason camp that there was a four-man competition to be the starting quarterback.

But it was obvious to observers – and Narcisse and McMillan – that they were behind Joe Burrow, the presumed starter, and Myles Brennan, the presumed No. 2 and only quarterback other than Burrow to have a realistic chance or starting when the Tigers open the season Sept. 2 against Miami.

So even Orgeron wasn’t surprised when the pair decided to leave.

“If they see they’re not going to be the starting QB,” Orgeron said after practice Wednesday evening, “then they’re going to leave.”

Now the effects of these departures might be negligible for this season, but they could become a bigger deal.

Orgeron wasn’t satisfied with the quarterbacks’ performances coming out of spring practice, so he jumped at the opportunity to bring in Burrow as a graduate transfer from Ohio State. The handwriting was on the wall for Narcisse and McMillan.

It became even clearer after the first preseason scrimmage last Saturday. Orgeron said all four quarterbacks had reps with both the first- and second-team offenses.

After reviewing the film, the coaching staff graded the quarterbacks and a “pecking order” was established. Then half the quarterbacks left.

McMillan’s presence in camp in the first place was surprising because he graduated on the eve of camp, providing him with the opportunity to transfer to an FBS school and become eligible right away. That’s an opportunity that he still has, but the lost time greatly diminishes his chances of playing right away.

He has two years of eligibility remaining and referenced merely “the next program” in announcing his decision.

Narcisse, who announced his departure Tuesday, reportedly already has a new school in mind – Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Like McMillan, he entered camp with a minimal chance of winning the starting job, but he did have a better chance than McMillan of getting on the field this season. As more of a dual-threat quarterback, he could have found playing time as part of a package that utilizes a running quarterback more than the base offense does.

In fact, in an interview with 104.5 ESPN in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, Narcisse said, “I was going to play at LSU this year. They did have some situations where they were going to utilize me and my abilities.”

But, Narcisse added, he wanted to be a full-fledged quarterback and not “be labeled as a ‘Wildcat guy’ or a guy who would just come in and just kind of run in certain situations.”

Orgeron confirmed that Narcisse was part of short-yardage and goal-line packages. That role could be inherited by a running back.

Presumably Narcisse felt a sense of urgency to find a place where he expects an opportunity to play in the not-too-distant future because this will be the third consecutive fall that he won’t be playing football. He redshirted last season at LSU after missing his senior year at St. James (La.) High School because of a knee injury. Additionally, in his junior year in 2015 he was injured in spring practice and didn’t play until the end of the season.

For LSU, the top of the depth chart will read Burrow/Brennan or Brennan/Burrow, which was what most observers expected anyway. Orgeron said he’ll let that competition “play out” in the wake of the transfers.

Whoever prevails in what’s left of camp will be the starter and the other will be in line for snaps if the need arises.

So nothing changes there.

But if either Burrow or Brennan is unavailable at some point for whatever reason, the Tigers won’t have a backup quarterback who’s on scholarship.

“I’m concerned with having just two guys on scholarship,” Orgeron admitted.

Additionally, quarterback suddenly becomes a much bigger priority in upcoming recruiting classes.

Then, of course, if Brennan, who has three years of eligibility remaining, finds himself behind Burrow and becomes frustrated, well, …