Unprepared for a snap during spring practice last week, Derrius Vick fumbled the ball as it hit his hands. But before anyone could react, Vick had scooped the ball off the turf and scampered 20 yards down the field before a coach’s whistle blew the play dead.
It is that versatility that has allowed Vick to succeed athletically, and it might get him on the field in 2012.
As a two-sport athlete in high school, Vick excelled both on the gridiron and on the hardwood, where he was named to the All-Nebraska first team.
It was not until two weeks into his senior basketball season that Vick decided that he would play football, not basketball, collegiately.
“I thought I was going to play basketball my whole life,” Vick said. “A month and a half before signing day was when I announced I wanted to play football. I thought I had a better chance of getting on the field faster. I thought if I only focused on football, I had better potential."
Vick entered his freshman season at Ohio as one of three players competing for the back-up quarterback spot behind starter Tyler Tettleton. When fellow freshmen Kyle Snyder and Ronnie Bell decided to transfer following last season, Vick became the only remaining quarterback to back up Tettleton heading into spring.
“Entering last season I came in not knowing anything, trying to get everything down,” Vick said. “The speed was outrageous. I wasn’t used to it. This year I’ve worked on the things I need to and have continued to develop. It has just slowed down. That’s been the biggest change for me.”
Though Vick continues to develop as a quarterback, his best chance to see the field this year might be on special teams.
Barring any unusual circumstances, Tettleton is unlikely to relinquish his starting role, but Vick is one of three players rotating in at holder during spring practice. Ohio coach Frank Solich said Vick is the frontrunner at the position.
“I would like him to be there because he gives you the option of being able to fake as a runner or a thrower as well as a guy that’s got good hands to put the ball down,” Solich said. “We’re hoping that he takes that position over.”
Special teams is nothing new for Vick, who along with playing quarterback in high school also served as the team’s kicker and punter — while starting in the secondary, as well.
Vick said his athleticism was a major draw to college coaches during his recruitment.
“That played a big part, knowing that if I didn’t work out at quarterback, I wouldn’t be stuck in the sand and I could fit somewhere else, so the versatility works there,” he said.
Vick was named Boys Prep Athlete of the Year by the Lincoln Journal Star during his senior season with Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast High School.
Previous winners of the award include Ohio quarterbacks coach Gerry Gdowski, who won in 1986.
Gdowski said Vick is doing a good job of grasping the offense and continues to improve with each snap.
“He’s working hard and picking everything up,” Gdowski said. “He’s coming along. Athletically he does some good things and keeps progressing in the offense.”
Gdowski is one of seven Ohio coaches with Nebraska ties, helping to lure Vick to Ohio.
“It was my number-one biggest factor,” Vick said. “Just to know that I had a home to go to. They understand what I’m coming from and there’s a lot of other Nebraska guys on the team, so that was nice.”
Once the new group of recruits joins the team, Vick will be competing with quarterback prospect Greg Windham, who signed his letter of intent to Ohio in February.
ro137807@ohiou.edu
