Chad Pennington. Byron Leftwich. Ben Rothliesberger.
Three top NFL quarterbacks which have come from the Mid-American Conference in recent years. Toledo's Bruce Gradkowski plans on joining the list of elite MAC quarterback-turned NFL star. But for now, the NFL is the last thing on Gradkowski's mind.
"Right now, I have to worry about what I'm doing now and continue to work hard," Gradkowski said. "I have to be focused on this [season]."
Those three former MAC quarterbacks - Pennington of the New York Jets, Leftwich of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Rothliesberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers - were all chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft and all are starters for their respective teams.
Entering the year as a pre-season All-America candidate, Gradkowski is also considered in the running for the Heisman trophy and Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's best quarterback. Last year he held the nation's best completion percentage (70.2 percent) and second-best in passing efficiency (162.6).
A three-year starter, Gradkowski has led the Rockets to a 4-1 record this season. Gradkowski has thrown nine touchdowns and 814 yards in four games this season. A big factor in Gradkowski's success this season has been Toledo's running game, which is averaging a MAC-best, 219 yards a game.
"The running game has made my job much easier," Gradkowski said. "The guys in the backfield have been getting the job done."
Gradkowski is one of the most prolific passers in Toledo history. The fifth-year senior currently holds 21 school passing records, including most career passing yards (7,570), most career touchdowns (65), and most career completions (619). Despite the success, Gradkowski says he still needs to take his game to the next level.
"I can get a lot better," Gradkowski said. "I'm not near where I want to be."
In three games against Ball State, Gradkowski is 2-1. Ball State head coach Brady Hoke says that Gradkowski's experience is very impressive.
"He makes good decisions, takes care of the football and is a very good football player," Hoke said.
Injured earlier in the year, Gradkowski sat out the Rockets' lone loss to Fresno State but returned to action against Eastern Michigan last week. He completed 15-of-26 passes for 160 yards, moving him into 10th all-time in the MAC with 7,570.
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