Union-Tribune
Ryan Lindley passed for 3,521 yards and 35 touchdowns for El Capitan High last season. |
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San Diego State football coach Chuck Long has never been hasty in doling out red shirts to incoming quarterbacks.
“If you've got a uniform on, and you're a quarterback, you better be ready,” Long said.
Not that Ryan Lindley need be fitted for a uniform tomorrow, but it might not hurt.
Lindley, one of 20 high school players to sign national letters of intent with SDSU yesterday, is coming off a senior season at El Capitan in which he threw for 3,521 yards and 35 touchdowns in being named The San Diego Union-Tribune and San Diego Section Offensive Player of the Year.
In the fall, he will begin taking reps at a position that already includes four players who have been in the system for at least a year – seniors Kevin O'Connell and Darren Mougey, sophomore Kevin Craft and redshirt freshman Kelsey Sokoloski.
Not that Lindley should be deterred.
Last season, less than a month after taking over the starting job when O'Connell suffered torn ligaments in the thumb on his throwing hand, Mougey suffered a shoulder injury at San Jose State and did not play again.
When Craft stepped into the fray after the injury to Mougey, Sokoloski, fresh out of Cherry Creek High in Engelwood, Colo., was one snap removed from becoming the Aztecs' starting quarterback.
Should such a scenario somehow develop again, Lindley doesn't plan on being caught flat-footed.
“I've tried to go to as many (SDSU offensive) meetings as possible to try and get a handle on things,” said the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Lindley, who completed 61 percent of his passes (235-of-385) last season. “I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve so that I'll be 100 percent ready when I come into camp this summer.”
And he doesn't intend to arrive playing the role of wallflower. Lindley, who said he has been meeting once a week at El Capitan with Aztecs offensive coordinator Del Miller, does not lack for confidence.
“I'm not going to take a back seat to anybody,” he said. “I've got a lot of respect for the (quarterbacks) who are already there, but when I get there I'm going to be looking to play. I'm not saying that I'm any better than any of the guys that are there right now, but I'm going to go in there and give it everything I've got.
“All I'm looking for is a fair shot. If I'm not as good as the other guys, then I shouldn't expect to play. I'm not looking for any special treatment. But I'm going to give it 100 percent and whatever happens, happens.”
Lindley will be joined at SDSU by El Capitan teammate Tommie Draheim (6-4, 265), who has served as the quarterback's center for four years. The two have been friends since childhood.
“I've really enjoyed being around (Lindley),” Long said. “He's a great leader and he has those intangible things you want. Everyone has heard about his great arm, but what you're looking for is how he controls things in the huddle, what he's like on the sideline with his teammates. He's one of those guys who says, 'Come with me. I'm going to take you down the field and we're going to win this game.' He's got a great attitude.”
Not cutting corners
The Aztecs went heavy on offensive linemen and defensive backs, signing seven of the former and six of the latter.
One player omitted from the list of SDSU recruits that ran in yesterday's Union-Tribune is DeAndre West, a 6-1, 195-pound defensive back from Oakland Wilson Prep. West was also pursued by Nebraska and Boise State.
Elliott staying put
SDSU defensive coordinator Bob Elliott said yesterday he has no interest in serving in the same capacity at Oklahoma State.
Rumors had circulated in recent weeks that Elliott was being courted by Cowboys coach Mike Gundy to join his staff in Stillwater.
“I'm not going anywhere,” said Elliott, who came to SDSU from Kansas State. “We came here with a job to do, and we're going to finish it.”
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
