Keller To Follow Past Transfers at Quarterback
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March 13, 2007 by
With less than two weeks remaining until Spring football begins, it's obvious that all eyes will be on Sam Keller, the quarterback transfer from Arizona State a year ago. The Huskers have had a good history of success with transfers at quarterback. Zac Taylor, the Big 12 offensive player of the year in 2006 came as a junior college transfer. The same was true of Scott Frost who lead the Huskers to back-to-back Orange Bowl victories and a national championship. But the former Husker that reminds me most of Keller is probably Vince Ferragamo.
Zac Taylor left Wake Forest for junior college because he didn't like his chances of playing there or perhaps anywhere in Division I-A. Scott Frost left Stanford in part because he didn't want to play safety. But Ferragamo came to Nebraska because he knew he was a Division I-A quarterback, there just happened to be an All-American in front of him. Keller may not have had an All-American ahead of him, but he also wasn't going to start even though he'd proven himself worthy of a starter's job
Even with the scout team year, Keller will probably find (as past transfers have) that it's hard to have a great year as a first-year starter, but a very good one is certainly possible. Despite a rash of injuries (and an early departure) at running back, Keller will have some good weapons to work with. Running backs Cody Glenn and Marlon Lucky are likely to be healthy and should have a high degree of familiarity with the west coast offense. Kenny Wilson will likely be healthy to add depth and Marcus Mendoza will have had a spring to learn the offense as well. So once again, Nebraska can lean on the running game to help the quarterback.
Maurice Purify, hero of the Big 12-North clinching victory at Texas A&M will have the benefit of his first spring at Nebraska. That should greatly expand his knowledge of the offense and his role as a playmaker. The Huskers will also boast veteran options at the other wide receiver spots in Frantz Hardy, Terrence Nunn, Nate Swift, and Todd Peterson. They'll give Keller a wealth of experienced choices to look for.
Like Ferragamo in 1976, Keller will be burdened with high expectations. The 1975 Husker squad lost only to national champion Oklahoma in Norman and to undefeated Arizona State in the Fiesta Bowl (the latter by just a field goal). Nebraska opened the 1976 season with the #1 ranking but finished with the worst record of Tom Osborne's entire head coaching career at 9-3-1.
With the Huskers winning the Big 12 North in 2006 for the first time in seven years, many see 2007 as a year for Nebraska to break through and win the conference championship. But with a tough schedule and holes to fill on the defensive line, that seems like a tall order.
Ferragamo's Husker Legacy became one of unfulfilled expectations. It's only because he later lead the Rams to a Super Bowl that he's remembered as fondly as he has been. Similarly, should Keller fall short of leading the Huskers to a championship, his pro career may ultimately become what endears him to the Husker faithful. While a good pro career for Keller will only help Nebraska, let's hope he can win Husker fans over this year.
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Tyler Mar 13 07
I want Sam to come in and lead us to the promised land as much as anyone, but the expectations are so high and the schedule is tough. A Big XII championship would be huge, really huge, but I'm not sure it's likely yet. Big XII North is very realistic, barring injuries. I can't wait to see him in the Spring Game because all the hype won't matter unless he's really that good and between his last season and this one will be what, like 18 months? I noticed you didn't analyze the line, but that will be key as well. At this point, I'm more concerned about the O Line than the D Line.
Darren Mar 15 07
Tremendous post, Steve. It is sometimes hard for many Husker fans (and historical revisionists) to keep the notion of a transfer QB like Keller in the proper context. This was a very revealing look at how these sorts of things have gone in the past.