Central Michigan QB job 'wide open' heading into preseason camp, coach Dan Enos says
Preseason camp kicks off on Monday and, for the first time in recent memory, Central Michigan football is without a clear-cut leader at quarterback.
And it might be that way for a while.
Last week, during Mid-American Conference media day in Detroit, CMU coach Dan Enos called the quarterback spot "wide open," with junior Cody Kater, sophomore Alex Niznak and redshirt freshman Cooper Rush all vying for the job.
"All three of them will be given equal opportunity once we start camp," Enos said. "From what our strength and conditioning coach (Rick Perry) tells us, they've all had a great summer. ... They all have tremendous worth ethic, so it's going to be exciting."
Since the team's April 13 spring game, coaches have had limited contact with players and are not allowed to hold official practices. That, however, changes on Monday when players report for two-a-day practices -- beginning the march to CMU's Aug. 31 season opener at Michigan.
Who will take the first snap under center at The Big House, however, remains up in the air.
At first glance, junior Cody Kater appears to be the obvious choice, a fifth-year journeyman who came to CMU in 2009. He has the most experience of the three, playing in two games last season as a backup to Ryan Radcliff and leading Grand Rapids Community College to a perfect 11-0 record in 2011 while throwing for 2,218 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games (GRCC won a game via forfeit).
Kater (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) saw some snaps in a blowout loss to Navy at home last season, completing two passes for 12 yards, but we haven't seen much of him beyond that. He split time with Niznak at quarterback on the Gold team during April's spring game, going 5-for-11 for 22 yards but also throwing an interception.
"He's only been here (in our system) for a year," Enos said at media day. "He'll tell you he's learned a lot, he's more comfortable. ... He’s athletic, he was an outstanding basketball player in high school, got great hips. He’s not super fast, but he’s quick and he’s really developed as a passer."
Niznak (6-foot-3, 227 pounds) remains the biggest question mark. He won a state title at Ithaca High School in 2010, even breaking the MHSAA record for rushing touchdowns (five) in a championship game, and came to CMU heralded as a dual-threat quarterback with a bright future.
But he still needs to improve his arm strength. Niznak was redshirted in 2010, his freshman year, and didn't see the playing field last season. He proved his ability to manage the offensive in the spring game, leading the Gold team down the field twice, capping both drives with a touchdown pass.
He finished the game 4-for-9 for 43 yards, rushing for another 35 yards.
"He's big, and he can run," Enos said. "He works extremely hard and ... developed as a passer over his two years here. Every time I see him, he gets a little better. We’re expecting him to have an outstanding fall camp."
The wild card, however, is redshirt freshman Cooper Rush. A runner-up for the state title in 2011 at Lansing Catholic High School, Rush (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) has solidified himself as the gunslinger of the group. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and 48 touchdowns his senior season and was named CMU's scout team offensive player of the year last season.
In April's spring game, he led the Maroon team to a win as the side's only quarterback, going 7-for-15 for 115 yards and a touchdown, but also throwing interceptions. When asked who Rush reminds him of, Enos said Jim Miller, a former Michigan State quarterback who went on to play six seasons in the NFL.
"He's just a tremendous passer," Enos said. "He’s got tremendous arm, he’s got a quick release, off the charts intelligence level and he’s very accurate. He puts the ball in tight windows, and he is one of the best passers I’ve been around in a long time."
But unless someone runs away with the job early on in preseason camp, which is doubtful, expect the quarterback battle to last throughout most of August. Enos says he just wants to have a starter named the Monday before the season opener.
"Whoever wins the job will have earned it and won it against some good people, and they’re going to be better for it," Enos said. "Competition makes things better.”
Contact Aaron McMann: aaron.mcmann@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @AaronMcMann. Follow @CMLIFE_football, too.
