Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast football coach seeks quarterback replacement

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Sophomore Kyle Snyder throws to a receiver in a passing drill during the team's practice on Monday. Snyder transferred to Southeast from Ohio University. - Photo by Nathan Hamilton

After Matt Scheible's record-breaking 2011 season, Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel is using spring practice to figure out who the three-year starter's replacement will be for 2012.

Scheible was the first quarterback in Ohio Valley Conference history to rush for more than 2,000 yards and pass for more than 4,000 yards. He finished his career with 2,595 rushing yards and 4,841 passing yards.

He finished his career as Southeast's all--time leader in total offense with 7,436 yards, which also ranks as the fifth highest in OVC history. He was also the first Southeast Missouri State University quarterback to be awarded first team all-OVC honors, which he received in 2010. He was named to the second team all--OVC in 2011.

Kyle Snyder, Tyler Peoples, Scott Lathrop and Zach Levy are all options to run the option offense for the Redhawks.

"Right now I would think Snyder is the guy that is out in front a little bit based on ability and skill level," Samuel said. "Snyder is very athletic and he's still learning the ropes. It looks like he's picking it up every day."

Snyder transferred from Ohio University where he was a backup quarterback. Snyder is eligible to play this year because NCAA regulations allow players that transfer from the Football Bowl Subdivision to the Football Championship Subdivision to play without sitting out a year. He completed five of eight passes for 38 yards with the Bobcats.

"I watched a lot of film on Matt Scheible," Snyder said. "He did a lot. He was really good. He ran the option really well. He did a lot for this program, and I'm kind of going off of him as a role model. He's a really good guy. He's a guy that I look up to."

Snyder said that his ability to scramble and make plays outside of the pocket are some of his better qualities. He also said that he needs to become more comfortable while taking snaps from under center instead of taking them out of shotgun, which he did at Ohio.

"He's a great quarterback," Peoples said about Snyder. "It's going to be a competition no matter what. He's a nice kid. I like him, no problems with him. It should be fun. Whoever starts, we will have a great team. I'm pretty positive about that."

Peoples, a sophomore, did not play last season and is recovering from a torn ACL. He said that he had surgery about four-and-a-half-months ago, and he plans to be ready for full practice in the fall.

Samuel said that he does not know what to expect from Peoples because he has not been able to do a lot in practice due to the injury.

Lathrop, a redshirt freshman, and Levy, a junior, have not had playing time for the Redhawks.

"Lathrop is a young kid that is making good progress," Samuel said. "He's a pretty intelligent football player and he's quick, makes good decisions.

"Zach Levy seems a lot more focused than he's been. His big thing is staying focused through the whole practice and meetings. He's doing a lot better."

Samuel said that Trey Lewis, a sophomore from Sikeston who played some at quarterback in 2011, will now play wide receiver. Lewis completed three of 10 passes for 39 yards at quarterback last year.

"We're just getting started, but we've got about four that we are taking a look at," Samuel said. "We may give him a couple of shots at quarterback, but right now we're going to leave him at receiver."

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