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with the Rockets true freshman quarterback Austin Dantin.

Watching warm-ups, I was hoping Opelt wouldn't play. I watched two unknown (at least on my part) Rocket QBs run the offense in pregame drills. I saw this skinny #4 in the pregame drills and thought "who is this walk-on?"

I was shocked when he came out for the first series of the game. The kid can play. He put the ball on the money almost every time. I think we'll be tired of seeing him before his career is over at UT. He reminds me of Forcier at Michigan. Let him get mature and become stronger and he's going to be tough to handle the next few years. Coach Clawson admitted as much in his postgame comments.

And speaking of future QBs, is Aron Pankratz our leader under center the next three years? I like his size and he showed a helluva arm on his recruiting video. Just wish we could have worked him in to some game action this year.

Dantin is good, but I have to feel a bit sorry for Aaron Opelt. He has spent a very large amount of his time as a UT QB injured. Without injuries, he is a 3+ year starter. He started a few games his true freshman year, including against us, then was the starter from sophomore year on but missed a lot.

I feel sorry for him in his games against us. His freshman year, he got the start, but he had to split time with Clint Cochran. His sophomore year, he missed the game due to injury and watched his team lay a 27 point egg. His junior year, he started, but his team helped him little as BG won 38-10. And his senior year, his last opportunity to play his biggest rival, he was on the sideline injured and all he could do was advise a true freshman. So basically, an almost four year starter got just one and a half games against his top rival.

That being said ... I'm really happy with a 3 game win streak against UT.

Rollo83 wrote:
And speaking of future QBs, is Aron Pankratz our leader under center the next three years? I like his size and he showed a helluva arm on his recruiting video. Just wish we could have worked him in to some game action this year.

Rollo, FWIW, I believe Pankratz' only action this year came in the 4th Q vs Boise, and he looked pretty good...had a couple of dropped passes, including one in the endzone... Were they against backups? Sure...but he still looked pretty poised in his 1st action against an excellent team...
Unfortunately, with most of our games being so close this year, he rarely had a chance to even "warm up" on the sidelines, hoping to get in. Hopefully, the time spent next to Clawson on the sidelines, sending in plays etc. will help a lot...

Opelt still put up some huge numbers even with the injuries.

Pankratz is probably the favorite going into camp but this Schilz seems to have gotten quite a bit of hype. There's also Bart Tanski from Mentor, who was Mr. Football in Ohio two years ago...wasn't it that award?
Kellen Pagel from Strongsville is on the roster as well.

Competition makes everyone better so it should be a fun battle.

GO FALCONS

Getting a bowl bid will really help in this regard, since we'll have a few more of weeks of full practice. That means more reps for the backup QBs, which can only help.

The spring game should be VERY interesting, too.

1987alum wrote:Getting a bowl bid will really help in this regard, since we'll have a few more of weeks of full practice. That means more reps for the backup QBs, which can only help.

The spring game should be VERY interesting, too.

I just hope if they get a bowl it is a decent match up.