Radcliff finally gets his shot

Three years.

That’s how long it’s been since Ryan Radcliff last started a football game.

Waiting in the wings behind Central Michigan’s most storied athletic figure since 2008, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound sophomore from Sherwood, Ohio, will finally get his opportunity Thursday when CMU opens the 2010 season against Hampton.

“It’s been a while since I actually played,” Radcliff said Aug. 17 during CMU’s football media day. “I remember the high school days. There’s not too much of college I could say that I’ve played, but I’m definitely excited to get back out on the field around the guys and playing football again.”

Radcliff will get an opportunity to prove himself under first-year CMU head coach Dan Enos, who officially named him the starter following the conclusion of the team’s preseason camp on Aug. 23.

Enos said Radcliff’s self-progression through the summer really began to blossom during the team’s August camp.

“You can tell he’s done a lot of work on his own,” Enos said. “He’s a worker and wants to get better every day.”

Despite only seeing playing time sparingly in seven games last season backing up Dan LeFevour, Radcliff was expected to take the reigns on the starting job heading into last spring.

He showed up to spring practice with a new coaching staff and playbook. Like many on the team, he struggled with terminology early but quickly rose to the occasion and took most of the reps in practice.

In April’s spring game, Radcliff played every snap for the White team, going 25-of-41 for 229 yards, while junior Derek Rifenbury and redshirt freshman A.J. Westendorp split duties on the Maroon team.

Radcliff returned for preseason camp and proved to be the most reliable quarterback out of the group, even with the addition of junior college transfer Brandon Fricke.

“He’s earned it,” Enos said. “We feel very comfortable with him and we think he’s going to be a very good player here for the next three years.”

He’s not Dan

While many CMU fans will naturally compare Radcliff to LeFevour, Enos has no problem admitting his starter is not as efficient running the ball. Instead, he makes up for in the pocket.

“He’s a guy that’s not going to overwhelm you or probably impress you with his foot speed running the ball, but he’s very good in the pocket,” he said. “He has a lot of posture – and moves well back there. In the scrimmages we’ve had, he’s been able to move around and find guys.”

Radcliff threw for more than 11,000 yards and 139 touchdowns at Fairview High School, including 4,738 yards during his senior season. He won two All-Ohio awards and was honored most valuable player of the 2008 Ohio North-South All-Star Game.

“It’s a big opportunity; I’m really looking forward to it,” Radcliff said. “I’ll never be Dan, but I’m going to do what I can and I have a bunch of great guys around me that will probably make me look better than I should.”