Throughout fall camp, LetsGoPeay.com will take a look at each of the position groups as the Austin Peay State University football team goes through preparations for the 2019 season. As we turn our focus to what the Govs have under center, it's important to remember that there's much more to this unit than just Jeremiah Oatsvall, although the 2017 OVC Freshman of the Year is certainly among the most renowned OVC signal-callers, there is plenty of depth and versatility available behind him.
First things first: Jeremiah Oatsvall is your starter, and he's very good.
This is something that you've likely noticed, unless you're new around here (welcome!) or recently emerged from a two-year coma (welcome back!). Oatsvall, the jewel of a program-changing signing class in 2017, emerged as a signal-calling savant almost immediately. There's a very good reason he's already ascended into the Govs' all-time top-10 in pass efficiency (first, 139.9), yards per pass (first, 8.1 ypp), quarterback rushing touchdowns (second, 12), passing touchdowns (third, 27), completion percentage (third, 53.8 percent), yards per completion (third, 15.1 ypc), quarterback rushing yards (third, 970 yards), passing yards per game (sixth, 120.8), passing yards (eighth, 2,779 yards) and completions (ninth, 184). When Oatsvall earned a spot on the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year preseason watch list, he was joined by Jacksonville State's Zerrick Cooper and Southeast Missouri's Daniel Santacaterina. There are quality quarterbacks all over the Ohio Valley Conference—Oatsvall is as good as any you'll find, in this and several other conferences.
Oatsvall can do more than just fling it, too. Only one quarterback in the OVC was among the league's top-10 in rushing and passing a year ago, and it was Austin Peay's signal-caller. A true double-threat, Oatsvall's mobility and ability to process reads on the run gives him an advantage over true pocket-passers.
"He's definitely taken on a really big leadership role," said Tim Zetts, Oatsvall's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. "Guys respect what he has to say; when he speaks, everybody stops to listen. He's getting more vocal, and he's made so many strides fundamentally and with his techniques. He's throwing the ball as well as I've ever seen him. We're really excited about where he's at right now.
"He's a solid guy for us. Anytime you have a guy who has experience, you can put him in situations beneficial to the team. You can't put a price on playing a team like Georgia and taking on that level of competition. Nothing he faces will be new to him."
The thing is, Oatsvall's being pushed every day in practice by a stable of signal-callers, many of whom in years past could've started for the Govs. The most notable of Oatsvall's understudies would be Javaughn Craig, whose 466 rushing and passing yards and five passing touchdowns against Tennessee State in 2016 remain a program single-game record. Prior to an injury last season, Craig garnered three starts and was periodically inserted as a change-of-pace from Oatsvall during six contests, including rushing for 108 yards and a score in the 2018 season-opener against Presbyterian.
Redshirt sophomore Kam Williams saw action twice last season and has the mobility to be a threat on the ground or in the air, as needed. Another sophomore, Drew Harris, transferred in from Dodge City Community College, where he threw for 1,603 yards and 13 scores in 2018. Bryce Robinson, a local standout at Clarksville Academy, rounds out a quarterback room that offers depth, skill and promise both now and in the future.
"It's huge to have those guys behind [Jeremiah]," Zetts said. "On top of having depth, we have experience and that's something we'll rely heavily on and guys we'll lean on. Our room is a mature group, and being mature experienced will help us as an offense."
2019 Returnees / 2018 Stats
Jeremiah Oatsvall (Jr.) / 104-of-201, 1,631 yards, 20 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 51.7 completion percentage; 85 carries, 517 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, 6 touchdowns
Javaughn Craig (Sr.) / 28-of-53, 365 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 52.8 completion percentage; 30 carries, 185 yards, 6.2 yards per carry, 1 touchdown
Kam Williams (R-So.) / 0-of-2; 2 carries, 27 yards, 13.5 yards per carry
2019 Newcomers
Drew Harris (So.)
Bryce Robinson (Fr.)
