Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Grammer, Stockstill getting back-to-back this spring
4/1/2015 5:49:00 PM | Football
Both QBs showing progress
MURFREESBORO - Middle Tennessee Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill appears to be in a much better place this spring than last – at least where the Blue Raider quarterbacks are concerned.
This time last year Stockstill and the Blue Raiders had no idea who the quarterback would be as they went into the spring without an experienced signal-caller after the graduation of Logan Kilgore.
This spring, Stockstill has two quarterbacks who have been through a full year in terms of spring, fall, winter, and going into a second spring.
Redshirt junior Austin Grammer and redshirt freshman Brent Stockstill are the top two quarterbacks in spring practice. Grammer was the team's starter in 2014 and put up strong numbers. Brent Stockstill served as an understudy; seeing action as a backup in one game, but getting ample reps through spring and fall practices.
"I am very pleased with where we are with the quarterback position," Coach Stockstill said. "Last spring we weren't sure what you were going to get with any of (the quarterbacks). (Grammer) probably feels more comfortable now. We know what he can and can't do better as a staff. Brent got a lot of reps during practices. We really have two guys that understand the offense."
Grammer started all 12 games in 2014 and helped lead the Blue Raiders to a 6-6 mark. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,557 yards and 17 touchdowns. Grammer also rushed for 442 yards and six touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback accounted for 2,999 yards of total offense.
Like Grammer, Stockstill is a quarterback who can hurt you on the ground or through the air. The shifty standout had a 32-to-5 touchdown to interception ratio at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. The southpaw was 173-of-265 for 2,690 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
Now, he's competing for the opportunity to be the Blue Raiders' starter.
"I think Grammer and I are both advanced in the offense right now," Brent Stockstill said. "I feel much better about things than I did last spring. I think (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Buster) Faulkner has done an outstanding job of building the offense around the players we have. Grammer and I are very similar in our skill sets. He's a very good runner and passer."
Grammer agrees that the Blue Raider offense is geared to the strengths of each quarterback hopeful. After a breakout campaign in 2014, the junior is ready to have an even greater impact in 2015.
"As a team we are working on just sheer effort and finishing plays," Grammer said. "Individually, I try to improve at something every day, whether it is my footwork, reading a play, whatever it may be. My biggest competitor is myself. I want to improve every day and that's how I go into every practice."
Brent Stockstill seems to be ahead of where he was coming out of last spring and there could be a reason why. After playing football and baseball for Middle Tennessee last spring, Brent Stockstill decided to take a redshirt season in baseball in 2015 in order to have complete focus on football.
"I think it has helped me tremendously," Brent Stockstill said. "I do miss baseball. I go in the (football) stadium and watch them every time they have a home game, but I believe the decision has helped me, especially in the weight room. I can see a big difference in myself this spring."
Although Brent Stockstill did not miss any football practices or scrimmages due to baseball last spring, his focus was not completely on football.
"I didn't miss anything football-wise last spring but just being able to put all of my chips into football this spring and last winter, there is no doubt it has helped me," Brent Stockstill said. "In the future I will go back to having to balance the two but, for now, I think the decision to focus 100 percent on football has worked out well for me."
Coach Stockstill said the decision to take a redshirt year in baseball was completely Brent's. The coach did say he believes the player has benefited from the decision.
"Being able to go through the winter program and concentrate solely on football is something he has never done, even in high school, because he played baseball," Coach Stockstill said. "Brent has gotten bigger and stronger. He is comfortable and looks to be in control of things. Right now all of his energy and focus in strictly on football and it has benefited him not only physically, but also how he is playing on the field. I am pleased with his progress."
Coach Stockstill has said he will refrain from naming a starting quarterback coming out of spring practice. That determination will be made during fall camp; however, it seems Middle Tennessee is much further along at the position this spring than it was a year ago.
This time last year Stockstill and the Blue Raiders had no idea who the quarterback would be as they went into the spring without an experienced signal-caller after the graduation of Logan Kilgore.
This spring, Stockstill has two quarterbacks who have been through a full year in terms of spring, fall, winter, and going into a second spring.
Redshirt junior Austin Grammer and redshirt freshman Brent Stockstill are the top two quarterbacks in spring practice. Grammer was the team's starter in 2014 and put up strong numbers. Brent Stockstill served as an understudy; seeing action as a backup in one game, but getting ample reps through spring and fall practices.
"I am very pleased with where we are with the quarterback position," Coach Stockstill said. "Last spring we weren't sure what you were going to get with any of (the quarterbacks). (Grammer) probably feels more comfortable now. We know what he can and can't do better as a staff. Brent got a lot of reps during practices. We really have two guys that understand the offense."
Grammer started all 12 games in 2014 and helped lead the Blue Raiders to a 6-6 mark. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,557 yards and 17 touchdowns. Grammer also rushed for 442 yards and six touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback accounted for 2,999 yards of total offense.
Like Grammer, Stockstill is a quarterback who can hurt you on the ground or through the air. The shifty standout had a 32-to-5 touchdown to interception ratio at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. The southpaw was 173-of-265 for 2,690 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
Now, he's competing for the opportunity to be the Blue Raiders' starter.
"I think Grammer and I are both advanced in the offense right now," Brent Stockstill said. "I feel much better about things than I did last spring. I think (offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Buster) Faulkner has done an outstanding job of building the offense around the players we have. Grammer and I are very similar in our skill sets. He's a very good runner and passer."
Grammer agrees that the Blue Raider offense is geared to the strengths of each quarterback hopeful. After a breakout campaign in 2014, the junior is ready to have an even greater impact in 2015.
"As a team we are working on just sheer effort and finishing plays," Grammer said. "Individually, I try to improve at something every day, whether it is my footwork, reading a play, whatever it may be. My biggest competitor is myself. I want to improve every day and that's how I go into every practice."
Brent Stockstill seems to be ahead of where he was coming out of last spring and there could be a reason why. After playing football and baseball for Middle Tennessee last spring, Brent Stockstill decided to take a redshirt season in baseball in 2015 in order to have complete focus on football.
"I think it has helped me tremendously," Brent Stockstill said. "I do miss baseball. I go in the (football) stadium and watch them every time they have a home game, but I believe the decision has helped me, especially in the weight room. I can see a big difference in myself this spring."
Although Brent Stockstill did not miss any football practices or scrimmages due to baseball last spring, his focus was not completely on football.
"I didn't miss anything football-wise last spring but just being able to put all of my chips into football this spring and last winter, there is no doubt it has helped me," Brent Stockstill said. "In the future I will go back to having to balance the two but, for now, I think the decision to focus 100 percent on football has worked out well for me."
Coach Stockstill said the decision to take a redshirt year in baseball was completely Brent's. The coach did say he believes the player has benefited from the decision.
"Being able to go through the winter program and concentrate solely on football is something he has never done, even in high school, because he played baseball," Coach Stockstill said. "Brent has gotten bigger and stronger. He is comfortable and looks to be in control of things. Right now all of his energy and focus in strictly on football and it has benefited him not only physically, but also how he is playing on the field. I am pleased with his progress."
Coach Stockstill has said he will refrain from naming a starting quarterback coming out of spring practice. That determination will be made during fall camp; however, it seems Middle Tennessee is much further along at the position this spring than it was a year ago.
Players Mentioned
QB/WR
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QB
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Tuesday, January 13
