ITHACA, N.Y. -- It's time to take an in-depth look at the 2010 Big Red football team position group by position group. A lot has been made of the quarterback situation and who will be the starter ... the competition is still on under the watchful eye of head coach Kent Austin.
Practice Photo Gallery Day 1 I Day 2 I Day 3 I Day 4 I Day 5 I Day 7 I Aug. 31
Big Red 101 - Special Teams I Defensive Tackles I Tight Ends I Linebackers I Safeties I Quarterbacks
Cornell enters the season without a cut-and-dried surefire starter, but has several options to turn to. Head coach Kent Austin's penchant for developing quarterbacks will be put to the test as he turns his attention to a group of signal callers who have attempted a total of 32 varsity passing attempts. Junior
Adam Currie (6-1, 199) and freshman
Jeff Mathews (6-4, 216) lead the pack early, while sophomores
Michael DiChiara (6-3, 212) and
Houston Hawley (6-4, 191) will have every opportunity to earn time behind center.
Currie has the most experience of the group, and his polish and poise make him a leading candidate to win the starting job. Currie has an accurate arm and has quickly picked up the offense. He earned his first varsity start last season against Fordham completing 15-of-28 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. Currie is also a good athlete who can move the pocket and scramble for yardage when a play breaks down.
Mathews is a physical, competitive quarterback who has quickly picked up the offense. He has a strong arm and is a prototypical pocket passer. He has great size to see over a defense, and his improved accuracy in fall camp has him squarely in the mix to open the season at quarterback. The Ventura County Player of the Year as a senior, Mathews compiled 3,314 passing yards and 37 touchdowns with just eight interceptions as a senior at Camarillo HS.
Both DiChiara and Hawley have the physical attributes that make them attractive prospects, and their continued improvement will allow each an opportunity to earn time on the varsity. Both players saw action on the junior varsity a year ago as freshmen and benefitted from a spring and fall learning Austin's new offensive playbook.
A pair of players who looked to be strong candidates to become the starter are expected to miss the season due to injury. Junior
Josh Vick (6-1, 215) and sophomore
Chris Amrhein (6-3, 209) will attempt to get healthy for the spring season and regain their place on the depth chart. Vick, a transfer from the University of New Hampshire, has the poise and presence needed for a lead signal-caller. He possesses a strong arm and the experience of playing as a backup at a high-level Division I team. Amrhein possesses a strong arm and excellent footwork. He saw time as a freshman as a reserve during the Fordham game, attempting four passes. He was listed on the two-deep as the team's backup throughout 2009 and has all the physical tools to compete after a spring and fall of learning the offense.
