Senior Brian Jones enters preseason drills this morning as the University of Toledo's No.1 quarterback.
And don't be surprised if he's the starter for the Rockets' opener against Cal Poly 20 days from now in the Glass Bowl, even though redshirt freshman Bruce Gradkowski is gaining ground.
“I think it would be prudent on our part to play a player who has played a little bit more,” UT assistant head coach/ offensive coordinator Rob Spence said yesterday. “I think Brian is a more seasoned player at this stage for obvious reasons. He's been in college now going on his fifth year and he's played football much longer than Bruce, so I think he's a little bit more savvy and a little bit more experienced, and I think that would give him an edge.
“Bruce's game is gaining. He is physically getting better and better. His athleticism showed itself in the spring. And that's important in what we do.”
UT head coach Tom Amstutz isn't ready to name Jones his starting quarterback yet.
“In my mind, it's still an open competition,” Amstutz said. “The starting quarterback for our first game has to win the competition on the field. I have to see at least two scrimmages before I pick one.
“Ideally, I'd like to name a starting quarterback a week before the first game.”
The chosen one will take the place of Tavares Bolden, who became the starter midway through the 1999 season. Bolden compiled a 24-5 record and was a two-time All-Mid-American Conference pick.
Jones (6-2, 215 pounds) played in five games last year as Bolden's backup. The left-hander completed 17 of 33 passes for 193 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He attempted only five passes all last season before being thrust into the starting lineup in the regular-season finale at Bowling Green - a 56-21 UT loss - after Bolden developed back spasms.
Gradkowski (6-2, 190 pounds) was the Rockets' scout team quarterback last season. As a senior at Seton-La Salle High School in suburban Pittsburgh, he passed for 2,978 yards and 30 touchdowns and was named first-team all-state.
“[Jones] displayed excellent leadership over the course of the summer,” Spence said. “He worked really hard in the weight room and prepared himself mentally through film study. He's really worked hard to improve his game in the last four months. He's done a good job. We're really excited about where he is right now.
“Bruce, over the course of the last year, has physically improved his body as much as anybody I've ever coached. He's gone from a young freshman to a much more mature adult. He has really, really grown up physically.”
The Rockets also are high on their No. 3 quarterback, redshirt sophomore Cedric Stevens. He enrolled at UT in January after transferring from Butler County (Kan.) Community College. Stevens (6-4, 217 pounds) passed for 1,266 yards and 14 touchdowns last season while leading Butler to the Kansas junior college championship.
“I think Brian's aware of the vast improvement that Bruce and Cedric have made,” Spence said.
Jones, a pocket passer, and Gradkowski, a scrambler, refuse to be drawn into a quarterback controversy.
“The competition is exactly where it was in the spring - we're still competing,” said Jones, who passed for 5,600 yards and 52 touchdowns in two seasons of junior college football at Shasta (Calif.) College before transferring to UT. “It's a friendly competition and may the best man win.
“I've been at every practice, worked hard in the weight room, worked hard in the film room and done everything I need to do to be on the field. Now it's just a matter of performing and showing what I can do.”
Gradkowski echoes those comments.
“I feel if I just play my game, things will fall into place,” he said. “But you just have to be patient. I feel whoever produces on the field and make plays is going to be out there and that's going to be better for the team.”
Senior wide receiver Donta Greene said he doesn't have a quarterback preference.
“I'm comfortable with either one of them as long as they get that ball in the air,” Greene said.
First Published August 9, 2002, 12:06 p.m.
