Work pays off for Wilbert
FAU quarterback Graham Wilbert passes David Kooi on the depth chart and hopes he will see his first action in next week’s opener at UAB as the Owls’ No. 2 quarterback.
Originally published on
8/26/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic quarterback Graham Wilbert refused to let it bother him late last season when quarterback David Kooi was the one who was put into games to gain experience behind Jeff Van Camp.
Instead Wilbert said he let that motivate him in the off-season and in training camp. And it paid off earlier this week as Wilbert was named the Owls backup quarterback for next week’s opener at UAB
“It was a motivational thing for me,” Wilbert said. “I just started working harder than I already was and it’s paying off.”
The choice wasn’t easy, Owls coach Howard Schnellenberger said.
“Part of it for athletic ability, part for knowledge of the system and reading signals and general attitude, but it was very close,” Schnellenberger said.
Wilbert and Kooi are both red-shirt sophomores, and despite Kooi playing last season, Wilbert would seem to have a leg up in the race for the starting quarterback job next season and, more importantly, could get action in FAU’s season opener on Thursday at UAB - possibly in the second or third quarter when Schnellenberger often will put the reserve quarterback in.
“I haven’t gotten in a game so that’s exciting to me,” Wilbert said. “I finally will get my opportunity, hopefully.”
Schnellenberger said his decision of Wilbert over Kooi could change by the Owls’ second game of the season, vs. Michigan State in Detroit on Sept. 11.
Morris will be watched: FAU redshirt junior Alfred Morris found out he was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list on Wednesday and vows to do some research on the SMU legend.
“I was surprised, I didn’t think they cared about us at all,” Morris said, laughing. “It’s a nice list to be on and when I heard I was on it I wanted to do some research on him and the award, but I had class. I’m going to be looking it up, though.”
Morris led the Sun Belt Conference with 1,392 yards rushing in 2009, which also set a school record.
Quick Hooters: Schnellenberger did not have report on left tackle Sam McCroy who left practice early, but didn’t think his injury was serious … The team moved up its practice schedule 30 minutes to attend Thursday night’s bonfire.
Practice report: What we saw at Thursday’s practice
- Making plays: LB Malik Eugene doesn’t get many interceptions but made a great play going low and cradling a throw by true freshman QB Stephen Curtis.
- Stepping up: We don’t talk about the OL much – especially this season – here on the practice report, but RG Chris Newbold has had a solid few days of practice.
- Instant message: “I’ve made three decisions like this and I’ve been wrong on all three of them,”
- Schnellenberger