By Paul M. Banks
There were representatives from about a half-dozen NFL teams at the Northwestern-Minnesota game a couple weeks ago. Yes, many were there to see Corey Wootton, Sherrick McMannis and especially Eric Decker, but a few had their eye on Minnesota Junior QB Adam Weber. He has still a season and a half left to go, but Weber has already grilled up many of the passing records in the Golden Gopher QB record book.
He’s already passed up Cory Sauter for career pass completions, and is on a very comfortable pace to pass up Asad Abdul-Khaliq, and then Bryan Cupito for TD passes this season. He’s less than 800 yards away from surpassing Cupito for all-time passing yardage leader. Ok, so maybe the names on the Gopher QB passing list are extremely unimpressive. (Tim Schade or Billy Cockerham anyone?) but that’s not the story, Weber is
Weber’s collegiate career is inextricably linked to that of Eric Decker– as he’s obviously benefited from having arguably the best receiver in college football on his team.
“It’s a comfort blanket as a quarterback…if they give a cushion to Eric, then I’m going to pick it up and throw it out there, and he’ll go pick up 8, 10 yards. And to have a receiver that you know will go and get it no matter what is crucial. Anytime we can find a way to get Eric the ball we’ll do it, but obviously we try to be smart with it, you can’t just force the ball out there,” the Shoreview, Minnesota native said about his tag team partner.
This year he’s had another added boost, coming in the form of a new offensive coordinator, Jedd Fisch from the Denver Broncos.
“He mixes it up a lot, moving guys around, using our tight ends a little bit more for blocking and protection. This year we wanted to put more tight ends in, and maybe establish the run, and play action off the run with me under center. Coach Fisch brings a professional mindset to the college game…He’s been under some great coaches, and each one has their own rhythm to their play-calling and he likes to go out there and attack,” Weber said.
Weber’s head coach, Tim Brewster discussed what makes Weber stand out. “Adam’s a great leader. He exemplifies the things that quality character leaders do. He stays calm and he sees the game at a speed in which he can come to the boundary and really talk about what he sees on the field, and that’s a very positive thing,” the Gophers leader (and Tight End on the 1983 Illini Rose Bowl) team said.