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University of Minnesota Athletics
Kill: We Feel Good About our No. 1 QB
8/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2011
Ask Gopher football fans to rank what things they are most looking forward to in 2011 and at the top of most lists will be seeing Marqueis Gray under center as Minnesota's quarterback.
The topic was also on the minds of the media gathered at Thursday's Big Ten Kickoff news conferences, as head coach Jerry Kill was constantly asked about Gray and his expectations for the junior signal caller.
Heralded as one of the Gophers' top athletes since arriving in the Twin Cities, Gray's contributions have been primarily at wide receiver thus far in his career, with brief spells at quarterback in relief of four-year starter Adam Weber.
With Weber now having moved on to the NFL's Denver Broncos, the baton has been passed to Gray, who completed eight of 23 passing attempts for 86 yards and a touchdown in his first two years with the Gophers.
"I think right now we feel good about our number one quarterback," said Kill. "Our big key is how we are going to utilize his talents at quarterback. I think that will be the key of what we have to do during two-a-day camp to make sure we can keep him healthy but also be able to utilize his talents."
Kill said would also like to see some competition emerge for Gray.
"I think we need competition all the time," Kill said. "I think that's why the great teams are great because there is competition. We don't have as much depth right now so we need to find somebody that's going to push MarQueis and find out who that number two person is."
Gray's progress at the quarterback position has likely been stunted by his lack of reps, according to Kill. But the head coach also thinks the sky's the limit for the young signal caller moving forward. He also understands why Gray was played so much at wide receiver as a freshman and sophomore.
"I think (not playing him) was the toughest thing," Kill said. "With Adam Weber being a quarterback, an outstanding quarterback, if MarQueis would have had a lot of quarterback reps, I think it would be scary where he's at right now because he's so athletically gifted. Going through spring ball, the guy that is no question without a doubt the most gifted athlete on our squad is MarQueis (Gray)."
Which is why so many Gopher fans are so eager to see what he can do with his chance at quarterback.
