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Ashland University
2005 Spring Football Preview: Quarterbacks |
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Quarterbacks (Offensive Coordinator - Tom Stacy) Key Losses - None Top Returnee – Nick Strance (156-301, 1,654 yards, 11 TD, 11 INT, 51.8 completion percentage). The Ashland University football staff ran a full battery of tests during the offseason, exams that measured strength, percentage of body fat, things of that nature. The AU staff didn’t bring in an optometrist, but even without an eye doctor on staff, the feeling is that quarterback Nick Strance (Willard, OH) has improved his vision. That’s a key for the 6-2, 205-pound Strance, who will be a junior in the fall. Strance has been AU’s starting quarterback for most of the last two seasons. When he was inserted into the lineup as a freshman he was learning on the run – in more ways than one. Last year, he had to adapt to a new system when head coach Lee Owens and his staff arrived. This spring, Strance has been able to settle down and work on the finer points of an offense he’s familiar with. “Nick’s gotten better, both in his accuracy and arm strength,” reported offensive coordinator Tom Stacy. “The biggest thing is he’s making better decisions at the line of scrimmage. If he continues to do that, he can have a good year for us. He’s playing with more of a swagger this spring.” Stacy admits that now that the coaching staff has worked with Strance for a year, they also know a lot more about him. They understand what he does best and they can work to his strengths. That should go a long way toward getting everyone on the same page of the playbook. That knowledge as much as anything probably contributes to that increased swagger Stacy mentioned. In the first scrimmage of the spring, Strance opened play with a 70-yard touchdown pass. Plays like that and Strance’s increased ability to move around in the backfield will give the offense a new look. Strance is one of five quarterbacks the Eagles are watching this spring. Kyle Johann (Findlay, OH), who will be a sophomore in the fall, is back. The 6-1, 205-pound Johann completed seven of 10 passes last season. “He has a better understanding of the offense,” Stacy noted. “He runs well, he needs to improve his passing. But he knows the offense just fine.” Mark Workman (Chillicothe, OH/Paint Valley) a 6-2, 210-pound sophomore, is also receiving snaps this spring. “He’s a solid passer and has a good working knowledge of the offense,” said Stacy. “He’s a smart player. Mark needs to work on the physical part of the game.” James McCants (Akron, OH/East) is a 6-1, 215-pound freshman who’s getting his first extended look with the Eagles. “He’s very athletic,” said Stacy. “He’s improved as a passer. He needs a better understanding of the offense.” The fifth quarterback in camp is transfer Chris Settlemire (Warren, OH/University of Toledo). Settlemire is a 6-2, 185-pound sophomore. “He’s still learning,” said Stacy. |