COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Willy bowls over UB coaches
Fourth-year QB ready for camp
It was Drew Willy who uttered the words “bowl or bust” last spring. Now it’s time to see if his words carry any weight.
Nine months after finishing with its best record since becoming a Division I-A program and still 26 days from its season opener against UTEP, the University at Buffalo begins training camp today at UB Stadium. During the offseason, Willy, a senior quarterback and four-year starter, immersed himself in his craft in hopes of improving the Bulls’ record-setting offense from a year ago.
With Willy at the trigger, UB coach Turner Gill, who also served as offensive coordinator, directed an offense that scored 291 points — the most in its Division I-A history and 28 points shy of the school record. Willy’s arm strength, poise and unflappability were among the positives during UB’s surprising 5-7 season.
“I expect him to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” said Gill on Friday before the program’s annual football luncheon at the Millennium Hotel in Buffalo. “He’s a three-year starter and now he’s going into his fourth year and we’re going to let it hang loose.”
The Bulls look for an improved offense after a relatively short adjustment period to Gill’s playbook last year, and Willy knows the attack better than anyone. He worked tirelessly on fundamentals on his own during the offseason, watching film and studying the offense. Gill is so confident in Willy’s knowledge of the scheme that he will allow him to change plans at the line of scrimmage if warranted.
“He’s going to have the opportunity to move the team in a dynamic way and it puts me in a more relaxed way of calling plays,” Gill said. “I have a little bit more freedom because we have taught him what to look for and how to get out of certain plays and get us into good plays.”
Willy had worked under a different offensive coordinator and offensive system for four straight seasons, dating from his senior season at Randolph High School in New Jersey, and said he is thrilled because he spent a second straight offseason studying under Gill and quarterbacks coach Danny Barrett.
“I’m working on my footwork and dropping back faster in the pocket,” Willy said. “I’m working even harder in the film room with coach Barrett and coach Gill. I’m looking forward to making my other players around me better. My job is to get them the ball and let them make plays. We have a lot of good skilled guys around me and I’m looking forward to what they can do on the field.”
Ten starters return on offense, including junior tailback James Starks (Niagara Falls) and junior wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt (St. Joseph’s). Starks is one of the elite backs in the Mid-American Conference after rushing for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns. Roosevelt led the team in receptions (63) and receiving yards (766) while scoring four touchdowns.
“I’m looking to get timing with my receivers, get our offensive line going and making sure we’re in sync with the whole offense,” Willy said. “We have to make sure we’re executing well and coming together as a whole.”
The only starter missing from a year ago is center Jamey Richard, who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and is now playing guard.
“We have all the people in place, we have the talent at every position, running back, tight end and receiver and we have depth,” Gill said. “If one thing happened, we wouldn’t necessarily shut down, but we have some explosive people.”
But it all starts with Willy, who set single-season marks for completions (258), pass efficiency rating (135.7), completion percentage (68.4) and didn’t throw an interception over the final seven games of the season. He will spend training camp refining his decision making process while also emphasizing the rhythm and timing of the offense.
“It’s a dream come true for an offensive coordinator and head coach to get a four-year starter,” Gill said. “He’s been in our system for three years now and I know he’s a very intelligent person.”
