His steps were a little lighter. His passes a little crisper. His head held a little higher. For the first time in four seasons, Ohio quarterback Fred Ray walked into spring practice last week as the No. 1 quarterback.
Six starts and fierce competition with former quarterback Dontrell Jackson last season assured Ray of the No. 1 spot. But as he found out to his benefit last season, quarterback job security is not that secure at Ohio.
Miami transfer Ryan Hawk, hungry for playing time after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, sheds his scout-team quarterback role this spring in exchange for a legitimate shot at the starting job.
"I've been thinking about it ever since I left Miami," Hawk said. "I feel like I have something at the end of the tunnel that I'm looking forward to doing."
That tunnel leads directly down the quarterback-derby gauntlet, where Hawk has to overcome the game experience Ray racked up against opponents like Miami, Marshall and Central Florida. Ray finished third on the team in rushing with 355 yards and completed 56 percent of his 100 passing attempts.
"(Last year's playing time) gives me a little edge," Ray said. "But Ryan could learn just as quick as I did. It's good competition."
Ohio coach Brian Knorr, who insisted both players would see playing time this season, could not look past Ray's confidence and experience the last half of the season.
"Performance is only the true measure of ability," Knorr said. "Freddie had a good second half of the season, and Ryan has performed at the Division-I level, but he hasn't performed in a year."
Hawk jumped to Ohio after it became apparent the immediate future of the RedHawks' football program rested on the explosive arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The move meant a year running other teams' offenses in practice and watching Ohio struggle to a 4-8 record.
"Football-wise, it's probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Hawk said. "It's tough, especially in some of the games where we struggled. You can't help out when you feel like you could."
Whether Ray or Hawk gets the starting nod against Southwest Missouri State August 28, either should help an anemic passing offense that managed just 87.4 yards per game and six touchdowns - dead last in the Mid-American Conference.
Knowing that the starting quarterback most likely will not be named until two-a-days begin this summer, Ray said he is determined to start and finish a season as a starter.
"They'll throw in whoever is ready in August," Ray said. "Hopefully I keep my No. 1 status and can be that guy leading the offense.
"It's my senior year," Ray said. "It gives you that extra little energy."
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Joe Arnold
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Quarterbacks Ryan Hawk (left) and Fred Ray wait in between drills. Hawk will challenge Ray for the No. 1 spot next season, but the Ohio football coaching staff said the job is Ray's to lose with all his starting experience from last season.
