After one week of fall camp, head coach Brady Hoke said there isno doubt that sophomore quarterback Joey Lynch will be thestarter.
Lynch earned the No. 1 spot coming out of the spring game whenhe completed 18 of 30 attempts for 270 yard with three touchdownsand no interceptions. He continued to impress the coaches duringthe first week of fall camp.
"I think his improvement has been very good," Hoke said. "We'reexcited about where he's at."
Second-year freshman Casey Gillin and two true freshmen, ColeStinson and Warren Suess, sit behind Lynch in the depth chart.
Sophomore Todd Racine, who rotated with Gillin as quarterbackduring the spring game, was moved to tight end over the summer.Hoke said with Racine's body type and athleticism, he could be anexcellent tight end.
"I think we needed more depth at that position," Hoke said. "Itgives Todd a chance to get on the field and contribute."
The two freshmen have had a lot thrown at them the first week,which makes their jobs tough. They both stand above 6-4 and couldsee some time as the season progresses.
"They're both awfully talented physically," Hoke said. "Theirbodies catching up to the mental part of the game is the strugglenow."
For Lynch, though, the mental part is what sets him above theother three.
"Joey makes great decisions out on the field, he takes care ofthe ball, and that's what you want is a field general that can dothat," Hoke said.
Hoke also likes that Lynch comes from a football family, hesaid. Lynch is the son of former Ball State head coach Bill Lynch,who played college football at Butler.
While Lynch does come from a football family, his playing timeon the field has been minimal. His biggest game was against BostonCollege last season where he completed three of three passes for 47yards and one touchdown. He took more snaps, but that is the extendof his experience on the field.
"I still got something to prove. I've only played 10 snaps sobasically I haven't proven anything," Lynch said. "I can't wait toget out there and prove to the teammates I can do it and lead theteam."
One thing that will help Lynch on the field is the strong set ofreceivers who return. The group is led by junior Dante Ridgeway,who caught 89 passes for 1,075 yards and had 10 touchdowns lastseason.
"I couldn't ask for anything more," Lynch said. "A newquarterback coming in and having an experienced group of widereceivers, it's going to make my job a lot easier.
"I just got to do my part and get us in the right place, andonce I drop back and make my reads, I know that they'll be open andcatch the ball."
Hoke calls the receivers the strength of the team and said hebelieves with Ridgeway, junior Ryan Hahaj and sophomores BryanWilliamson and Terry Moss, he has a strong group of four. SeniorJason Barnes will also add depth and toughness, Hoke said.
With that group of receivers as well a running game Hoke saidwill be improved, Lynch and the team appear ready for 2004.
"I think we're clicking right now, and it's only going to getbetter," Lynch said. "It's not one guy who screws up, it's allabout the team. If one guy screws up, we're doing it together."
"No one's for themselves, and we're all in it together, andwe're going to get it done together."
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