Dantin still ahead in Rockets' QB race

Austin Dantin played in seven games last season for the Rockets. He completed 79 of 119 passes for 962 yards and recorded four touchdowns and four interceptions. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

With less than a week remaining before its annual Blue-Gold spring intrasquad football game, the University of Toledo appears to be growing ever closer to finding its next starting quarterback.

Before the start of spring workouts, coach Tim Beckman said sophomore Austin Dantin would get the first look behind center among a cast of three other hopefuls, and Dantin has so far kept his place atop the depth chart.

"Right now, yeah, he's probably performing a little bit better than the other ones," Beckman said. "He has a little bit more experience, but each day it's something different. That's the greatest thing about competition and playing this game, and that's why you practice."

As the backup to the departed Aaron Opelt last season, Dantin completed 79 of 119 pass attempts (66.4 percent) for 962 yards in seven contests and had four touchdowns and four interceptions.

But Dantin still has something left to prove to his teammates and coaching staff before he's named the starter for 2010.

"So far this spring, I've done some good things and I've done some bad things," Dantin said. "There's obviously stuff I still need to work on. Consistency is the one big thing, but I think that's the same for everyone. As I go, I believe the offense does, and I think we need to keep building that consistency and that starts with me."

Sophomore David Pasquale began the spring as the third-string quarterback on the depth chart, but he has slid into the backup role and surpassed senior Alex Pettee, who has fallen to fourth string behind redshirt freshman Terrence Owens.

Pasquale did not attempt a pass for the Rockets last season, but he did take a couple dozen snaps as a wildcat quarterback, rushing for 78 yards on 24 attempts.

Pasquale's involvement in that run-first formation was necessitated by the fact that he hadn't completely healed from shoulder surgery in the offseason prior to the 2009 campaign.

He's just recently been able to start throwing again at a high level and on a consistent basis, which has allowed him to re-enter the quarterback derby.

"My shoulder's a lot stronger, and I've been able to work on my throwing motion and improving my accuracy," Pasquale said. "We've had good competition. It's been good for all of us, good for the offense and good for our team. You can't get any better than this."

In order to promote fair competition, each of the four quarterbacks has taken snaps with the first-team offense.

As for how long he intends to allow the competition to foster, Beckman said he plans to let it go as long as it takes.

"We'll have a feel for what we have [heading into two-a-day workouts in August], but the security will be when they've proven it to this football team and the staff," Beckman said. "And if it comes during two-a-days or the day before the [season-opening] Arizona game, then that's the way it's going to be.

"They'll keep competing, and it's wide-open right now."

DRAFT DAY: The Rockets will hold their annual spring draft after tomorrow's practice to split the squad for Friday night's spring game at 7 at the Glass Bowl.

Each and every player, coach, and support staff member will be divided up between the Blue and Gold teams with the winning squad awarded a steak dinner and the losers eating hot dogs.

Contact Zach Silka at:

zsilka@theblade.com

or 419-724-6084.