Band of Backups
July 05, 2006 05:27 PM | General
July 5, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The last thing in the world West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez wants is for starting quarterback Patrick White to go down with an injury. But in the rough and tumble world of college football, contingency plans must be made for the unthinkable.
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| Nate Sowers accounted for more than 10,000 yards of offense during an outstanding prep career at Martinsburg High School.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Last year Rodriguez not only had White, but also talented sophomore Adam Bednarik to go to. But with Bednarik likely shelved for the season following shoulder surgery last spring, Rodriguez will look this fall to a pair of unproven rookies to serve as White’s back up in Martinsburg’s Nate Sowers and Jarrett Brown of West Palm Beach, Fla.
And what they lack in experience they both make up for in talent.
Brown has a very live arm and outstanding size, using both to earn Florida class 6A all-state honors as a senior at Palm Beach Lakes High School. The Sun-Sentinel Player of the Year passed for 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, while also accumulating nearly 500 yards on the ground.
Brown picked West Virginia over Minnesota, N.C. State and South Florida.
“Those were the schools I was looking at but I had more offers,” Brown said.
“Looking at the future I knew they were going to be good because they were pretty young. I knew I had a chance to come in and compete and that’s all I can ask for,” says Brown of his decision to attend WVU.
Brown admits high school football was much simpler than what he’s encountered so far in college.
“There are a lot more plays than in high school and I had to learn each route package. I wasn’t really ready,” he said.
Like Brown, Sowers also sports lofty prep credentials. He led his high school team to a 50-5 record and was named West Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2004. He posted yardage totals of 8,515 passing and 2,427 rushing to go along with 141 total touchdowns during a record-setting prep career at Martinsburg High School.
Even though he’s in contention for a back up role this fall, Sowers isn’t changing his approach.
“I approach every day the same and I think that’s the way you have to be,” he said. “I’m just taking it all in stride right now. If I happen to get that second spot it would be great. Right now I’m just trying to learn the offense and watch as much extra film as I can. Hopefully the summer workouts will pay off.”
Circumstances are similar for Brown, who admits it was difficult watching from the sidelines last year.
“That was very tough,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I can remember and I never sat down like that.”
Both quarterbacks are athletic, can escape the rush, run with the ball and can make all of the throws. The only real difference is Brown at 6-3 is a few inches taller than Sowers, listed at 6-2 but likely closer to 6 feet.
“I think we’re both pretty athletic and we can both run and pass. (Jarrett) is a great athlete and he’s a lot taller than I am -- he can sit back in the pocket a little more and look over the linemen,” Sowers said. “I have to look through gaps and between the linemen.”
Both say the biggest thing is for them to get a better grasp of learning the system this summer.
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| Jarrett Brown was the Sun-Sentinel player of the year in 2004.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
“I’m working on paying attention to details like Coach Rod says all the time,” said Sowers. “I’m learning the defenses and when to throw the ball and where. There are a lot of details and eventually I hope to get it.”
“I was talking to Coach Rod and it was like, I’m going to have to really be ready to step in at any moment,” Brown said.
The pair is getting their feet wet in the player’s-only summer passing league.
“It’s a little more organized. (The players) have been doing it now for years and I think that helps us out,” Sowers said. “It’s kind of a way for us to get a workout in by ourselves. We’re learning about each other.”
Brown says things were coming at him quickly last fall. Now, the game is starting to slow down for him a little bit.
“When I first started it was like there were a lot of guys out there,” he said. “Now it’s getting easier and I can make my reads a lot better.”
Pat White has helped them, too, unselfishly taking his time to answer questions and offer pointers.
“He’s helping both of us out,” Sowers said. “He’s been here a year longer than the rest of us and he’s got experience in the games. Plus, he’s a great guy. He’s not a selfish guy at all. Any questions we ask he answers them. Any time you want to stay after he’ll do it to help you out with anything.”
According to Sowers, it’s ironic that a once deep position has been whittled down by injuries and attrition.
“That’s the way things usually go when you have a lot of guys at one position and I’m just glad I’m still here and competing for the No. 2 spot,” he said.
For Brown to win the back up job, he says he’s going to have to go out and let his natural ability take over.
“I want to go out there and know everything without thinking and just go out and play,” he said.
