Eric the Red
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Witt on Campus
Witt can't wait to enter the QB mix
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - The first such quarterback experiment at Nebraska failed miserably.
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With a 2,700-yard rusher in his backfield last fall, Nebraska recruit Patrick Witt passed only 111 times, an average of 8.5 per game. But he did complete 55 percent of those attempts for 964 yards. Witt will be attending his third school in four years this fall at Wylie (Texas).
The QB graduated from high school one semester early. He started college seven months before his freshman classmates, just as Patrick Witt does today. And a year later, he was gone, having never played for the Huskers.
Why then, six years after Curt Dukes couldn't cut it as part of the NU football program, does optimism abound over the arrival of Witt?
Well, for starters, Witt appears more equipped than most to handle the mental rigors of this transition.
"I'm sure I'll struggle to keep up and keep my head above water," said Witt, one of six new Huskers as spring semester classes open today. "But at the same time, I think about it and remember why I made the decision to graduate early. I want to participate in spring drills.
"By the time I would normally be getting there (in August), it's hard to put a value on how much I'll have already experienced. I'll be like a grade ahead."
Other mid-term enrollees include running back Marcus Mendoza of Houston and four junior college transfers - quarterback Zac Lee, safety Larry Asante, cornerback Armando Murrillo and defensive tackle Shukree Barfield.
Witt, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound, strong-armed QB from suburban Atlanta, arrives in Lincoln after playing his senior season in Wylie, Texas. He moved west, in part to find an offensive system that would showcase his arm.
It worked, in fact, even before Witt played a game in Texas. He committed shortly after receiving an NU offer in June.
One day after his high school graduation last month, Witt and his family moved back to Georgia.
He was scheduled Sunday night at NU to visit with academic advisor Dennis Leblanc and then meet his new teammates. Witt and Mendoza, the only other new freshman, will share a dorm room. They've talked regularly on the phone.
"I'm bringing the TV," Witt said. "He's bringing the X-box. We're delegating."
Through winter conditioning and especially when spring practice opens in March, Witt will join an intriguing mix at quarterback. Senior Sam Keller, the heralded transfer from Arizona State, ranks as the favorite to win the starting job vacated by Big 12 offensive player of the year Zac Taylor.
Reserves Joe Ganz and Beau Davis also return, in addition to Lee and Witt.
"I don't know the guys," Witt said, "but I'm sure they're great guys and great players. You might call it a competition, but we're working together to achieve one main goal, and that's to put the best product on the field and make each other better.
"There's a lot for me to learn from. There's a lot of experience there."
There are many reasons, surely, to explain the poor track record nationally of quarterbacks enrolling early.
Near the top of the list, you'll find a problem that plagued Dukes, who was nearly thrust into playing time early in his freshman season. In the end, Dukes lacked the wherewithal and maturity to thrive in his situation. He transferred after one year in Lincoln.
Witt comes from the same pedigree that readied his brother, Jeff, to play quarterback and survive at academic powerhouse Harvard.
Patrick Witt attended four high schools en route to graduating in 31/2 years. He starts school at NU with one full semester of college credit hours.
"I've kind of been counting down the days, and it's finally here," Witt said. "It's been a long time coming. I'll kind of learn on the fly, but I'm sure I'll be told what to expect. You don't really know what to expect until you experience it. That's the best way to learn."
Witt can't wait to enter the QB mix
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - The first such quarterback experiment at Nebraska failed miserably.
Click to Enlarge
With a 2,700-yard rusher in his backfield last fall, Nebraska recruit Patrick Witt passed only 111 times, an average of 8.5 per game. But he did complete 55 percent of those attempts for 964 yards. Witt will be attending his third school in four years this fall at Wylie (Texas).
The QB graduated from high school one semester early. He started college seven months before his freshman classmates, just as Patrick Witt does today. And a year later, he was gone, having never played for the Huskers.
Why then, six years after Curt Dukes couldn't cut it as part of the NU football program, does optimism abound over the arrival of Witt?
Well, for starters, Witt appears more equipped than most to handle the mental rigors of this transition.
"I'm sure I'll struggle to keep up and keep my head above water," said Witt, one of six new Huskers as spring semester classes open today. "But at the same time, I think about it and remember why I made the decision to graduate early. I want to participate in spring drills.
"By the time I would normally be getting there (in August), it's hard to put a value on how much I'll have already experienced. I'll be like a grade ahead."
Other mid-term enrollees include running back Marcus Mendoza of Houston and four junior college transfers - quarterback Zac Lee, safety Larry Asante, cornerback Armando Murrillo and defensive tackle Shukree Barfield.
Witt, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound, strong-armed QB from suburban Atlanta, arrives in Lincoln after playing his senior season in Wylie, Texas. He moved west, in part to find an offensive system that would showcase his arm.
It worked, in fact, even before Witt played a game in Texas. He committed shortly after receiving an NU offer in June.
One day after his high school graduation last month, Witt and his family moved back to Georgia.
He was scheduled Sunday night at NU to visit with academic advisor Dennis Leblanc and then meet his new teammates. Witt and Mendoza, the only other new freshman, will share a dorm room. They've talked regularly on the phone.
"I'm bringing the TV," Witt said. "He's bringing the X-box. We're delegating."
Through winter conditioning and especially when spring practice opens in March, Witt will join an intriguing mix at quarterback. Senior Sam Keller, the heralded transfer from Arizona State, ranks as the favorite to win the starting job vacated by Big 12 offensive player of the year Zac Taylor.
Reserves Joe Ganz and Beau Davis also return, in addition to Lee and Witt.
"I don't know the guys," Witt said, "but I'm sure they're great guys and great players. You might call it a competition, but we're working together to achieve one main goal, and that's to put the best product on the field and make each other better.
"There's a lot for me to learn from. There's a lot of experience there."
There are many reasons, surely, to explain the poor track record nationally of quarterbacks enrolling early.
Near the top of the list, you'll find a problem that plagued Dukes, who was nearly thrust into playing time early in his freshman season. In the end, Dukes lacked the wherewithal and maturity to thrive in his situation. He transferred after one year in Lincoln.
Witt comes from the same pedigree that readied his brother, Jeff, to play quarterback and survive at academic powerhouse Harvard.
Patrick Witt attended four high schools en route to graduating in 31/2 years. He starts school at NU with one full semester of college credit hours.
"I've kind of been counting down the days, and it's finally here," Witt said. "It's been a long time coming. I'll kind of learn on the fly, but I'm sure I'll be told what to expect. You don't really know what to expect until you experience it. That's the best way to learn."
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