For the first time in four years, Boise State heads into a football season not knowing who its quarterback is going to be. I'm sure by now coach Chris Petersen has told the QB's who his choice is, and perhaps even the members of the team, but as usual, he's keeping quiet about the decision. All four have their strengths: Joe Southwick has experience and knowledge of the Bronco system on his side, Nick Patti makes good decisions and looks comfortable in the role, Grant Hedrick has great skills as a runner and Jimmy Laughrea has the best size and a cannon arm. All four came to Boise State with outstanding credentials.
No matter who trots out on the field against Michigan State next Friday, he'll have a host of factors in his favor:
1. His head coach is Chris Petersen, himself a quarterback, who has helped mold some of the best quarterbacks in the nation over the last 12 years.
2. He will have the assistance, intuitive play-calling and NFL experience of offensive coordinator Robert Prince.
3. He'll take snaps behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation and one of the best at protecting the quarterback.
4. He'll have the luxury of a deep and talented stable of running backs behind him.
5. He'll have one of the best collegiate receiving corps to throw to.
Joe Southwick (6-1, 187, Jr.) played behind Kellen Moore for the past three seasons, and learning from Kellen has to be a strength. Southwick began his career as a redshirt in 2009, when he was named Offensive Scout Player of the Year. He played in eight games as a freshman, completing 17-of-24 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Joe tossed a 78-yard TD pass to Chris Potter for his first collegiate touchdown, and also had nine carries for 31 yards. Southwick was named to the WAC All-Academic Team.
Last season, Southwick played in eight games, firing 23 completions in 30 attempts for 198 yards and a touchdown. He also ran seven times for 16 yards.
Southwick came to Boise State from San Ramon High School in Danville, California, where he was all-conference as a senior. He completed 239 passes for 3,782 yards and 36 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and also ran for 350 yards and eight TD's. In his junior season, Joe threw 35 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, a 63 percent completion percentage and 3,185 yards.
True freshman Nick Patti (5-10, 187) showed his dedication and work ethic when he graduated from high school early and enrolled at Boise State in the spring so he could compete for the starting job. Patti played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix following high school, and was one of 24 quarterbacks in the nation to be invited to the Elite 11 camp prior to his senior season. Patti was a finalist for both the National Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football in Florida.
Patti compiled a 34-4 record as a starter at Dr. Phillips High School and set school career records for completions (374), yards (5,701), touchdown passes (66) and completion percentage (67 percent). Those are the numbers you want in a starter. Patti was named the 8A Florida Player of the Year following his senior season and was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel, Bright House and the Orlando Touchdown Club.
As a senior, Patti threw for 2,114 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 626 yards and seven touchdowns in leading Dr. Phillips to the second round of the state playoffs. Patti led his team to a 14-1 record and a berth in the state championship as a junior, throwing for 2,390 yards, 28 touchdowns and just one interception. Nick also ran for 377 yards and three touchdowns.
Sophomore Grant Hedrick (6-0, 192) redshirted in 2010, then made appearances last year, completing 2-of-3 passes for 19 yards. Hedrick also rushed eight times for 70 yards and a touchdown, and was often the man in the wildcat formation for the Broncos.
Hedrick was the Oregon High School State Player of the Year as a senior and was second-team all-state as a junior. Hedrick completed 65% of his passes his senior year at Central High School in Independence, Oregon, going over the 2,500-passing yards mark and firing 34 touchdowns against a lone interception. Hedrick also rushed for over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior. In his junior year, Hedrick threw for 3,100 yards and rushed for 1,200. Grant fired 41 touchdowns against seven interceptions, completed 69% of his passes and scored 13 touchdowns.
Freshman Jimmy Laughrea (6-1, 200) was the guy that fired passes to promising Bronco tight end Holden Huff at Rocklin High School in California. Laughrea was All-Sierra Foothill League his senior year at Rocklin after completing 60% of his passes for 2,527 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 327 yards and six scores. In his junior year, Laughrea threw for 2,635 yards and 22 scores and rushed for six more.
Laughrea redshirted last season and was named Boise State's Offensive Scout Player of the Year.
Four talented signal-callers, each of whom has the capability to lead Boise State to an outstanding season. We have our sources that tell us who the starter will be but, in keeping with Coach Pete's embargo against the media revealing specific information about the Bronco quarterbacks, we will hold our tongue.
No matter who trots out on the field against Michigan State next Friday, he'll have a host of factors in his favor:
1. His head coach is Chris Petersen, himself a quarterback, who has helped mold some of the best quarterbacks in the nation over the last 12 years.
2. He will have the assistance, intuitive play-calling and NFL experience of offensive coordinator Robert Prince.
3. He'll take snaps behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation and one of the best at protecting the quarterback.
4. He'll have the luxury of a deep and talented stable of running backs behind him.
5. He'll have one of the best collegiate receiving corps to throw to.
Joe Southwick (6-1, 187, Jr.) played behind Kellen Moore for the past three seasons, and learning from Kellen has to be a strength. Southwick began his career as a redshirt in 2009, when he was named Offensive Scout Player of the Year. He played in eight games as a freshman, completing 17-of-24 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Joe tossed a 78-yard TD pass to Chris Potter for his first collegiate touchdown, and also had nine carries for 31 yards. Southwick was named to the WAC All-Academic Team.
Last season, Southwick played in eight games, firing 23 completions in 30 attempts for 198 yards and a touchdown. He also ran seven times for 16 yards.
Southwick came to Boise State from San Ramon High School in Danville, California, where he was all-conference as a senior. He completed 239 passes for 3,782 yards and 36 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and also ran for 350 yards and eight TD's. In his junior season, Joe threw 35 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, a 63 percent completion percentage and 3,185 yards.
True freshman Nick Patti (5-10, 187) showed his dedication and work ethic when he graduated from high school early and enrolled at Boise State in the spring so he could compete for the starting job. Patti played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix following high school, and was one of 24 quarterbacks in the nation to be invited to the Elite 11 camp prior to his senior season. Patti was a finalist for both the National Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Football in Florida.
Patti compiled a 34-4 record as a starter at Dr. Phillips High School and set school career records for completions (374), yards (5,701), touchdown passes (66) and completion percentage (67 percent). Those are the numbers you want in a starter. Patti was named the 8A Florida Player of the Year following his senior season and was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel, Bright House and the Orlando Touchdown Club.
As a senior, Patti threw for 2,114 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 626 yards and seven touchdowns in leading Dr. Phillips to the second round of the state playoffs. Patti led his team to a 14-1 record and a berth in the state championship as a junior, throwing for 2,390 yards, 28 touchdowns and just one interception. Nick also ran for 377 yards and three touchdowns.
Sophomore Grant Hedrick (6-0, 192) redshirted in 2010, then made appearances last year, completing 2-of-3 passes for 19 yards. Hedrick also rushed eight times for 70 yards and a touchdown, and was often the man in the wildcat formation for the Broncos.
Hedrick was the Oregon High School State Player of the Year as a senior and was second-team all-state as a junior. Hedrick completed 65% of his passes his senior year at Central High School in Independence, Oregon, going over the 2,500-passing yards mark and firing 34 touchdowns against a lone interception. Hedrick also rushed for over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior. In his junior year, Hedrick threw for 3,100 yards and rushed for 1,200. Grant fired 41 touchdowns against seven interceptions, completed 69% of his passes and scored 13 touchdowns.
Freshman Jimmy Laughrea (6-1, 200) was the guy that fired passes to promising Bronco tight end Holden Huff at Rocklin High School in California. Laughrea was All-Sierra Foothill League his senior year at Rocklin after completing 60% of his passes for 2,527 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 327 yards and six scores. In his junior year, Laughrea threw for 2,635 yards and 22 scores and rushed for six more.
Four talented signal-callers, each of whom has the capability to lead Boise State to an outstanding season. We have our sources that tell us who the starter will be but, in keeping with Coach Pete's embargo against the media revealing specific information about the Bronco quarterbacks, we will hold our tongue.
No comments:
Post a Comment