Loeffler Flips Sparty QB to Va Tech

Submitted by CincyBlue on

Former Michgan QB coach and current OC for Va Tech flipped MSU QB commit Chris Durkin (2014 class) to Virginia Tech.  

“A chance to play early,” Durkin said by phone Monday night. “At the other place I was looking at a two- to three-year wait before I really got a shot. And coach [Scot] Loeffler said he wants me to play early.” “He coached [Tom] Brady, [Tim] Tebow and most importantly to me, Chad Henne. … I’m confident that coach Loeffler knows how to prepare young talent for the next level. He’s proven he can do it and now I need to do the exact same.”

 

http://blogs.roanoke.com/andybittervirginiatechfootball/2013/12/16/hoki…

James Burrill Angell

December 17th, 2013 at 9:50 AM ^

The kid is probably right. When he committed he probably figured he'd get there after Maxwell graduates and get the chance to compete with the rest. Now Connor Cook is in there for the next two seasons. I believe Va Tech's QB is done this year or next and he'll get his chance sooner.

FrankMurphy

December 17th, 2013 at 3:42 PM ^

I felt that way about Justin Siller at Purdue. It feels like he got like eight years of eligibility.

That kid was like a gopher who tore up your garden once and then stopped by every now and then just to say hello (sorry to bring up bad memories)

Bez

December 17th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^

Back when I coached high school football, there was a tape that I saw of Loeffler doing footwork drills with Brady/Henson.  I also saw Loeffler give a talk where he used the tape as a talking point on QB footwork, speaking to how Brady had to take longer strides because of his limited quickness.

I'm pretty sure that tape helped Loeffler get most of his work.

Magnus

December 17th, 2013 at 9:56 AM ^

The other QB in Virginia Tech's 2014 class is Andrew Ford, who was Adam Breneman's quarterback in high school. I remember Michigan being in touch with Ford a little bit before they settled on Speight, and Ford's kind of a soft-tossing lefty. Durkin definitely has a chance to pass him up.

Bodogblog

December 17th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^

that they have another QB recruit in the class.  I know QB's look at depth charts more than probably any other position, and Cook is obviously more entrenched than a fellow freshman QB, but that still seems like it would be very disappointing for Sparty fans. 

12-1 season and a Rose Bowl, you don't expect to have decommits in that environment - in fact I think that you'd expect to close on remaining commits.  Didn't they lose that Slade kid about a week ago to Nebraska?

WMU81

December 17th, 2013 at 12:25 PM ^

This kid ever heard of competition? Nothing is guaranteed and if he is good enough he has nothing to worry about...plus, isn't va tech more spread than pro style??

rock7413

December 17th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^

I don't understand this flip, not only is it a downgrade in a program, but also VA Tech already has 2 QB's in this class, Andrew Ford and Travon McMillian (who is listed as an ATH, but is a Dual Threat very capble of playinng QB in college) now add in Durkin. Quite crowded now

Magnus

December 17th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^

First of all, I don't think the guys already on the roster are exactly what they want. Secondly, I don't really think McMillian is a quarterback. He might be a guy you put in there in Wildcat types of packages, but I just don't see him as the future at QB. He's probably better off at RB, WR, or S.

moxiechicago

December 17th, 2013 at 2:21 PM ^

I have to disagree that this is a downgrade in program.  Sure VA Tech might still be recovering from their 2012 Sugar Bowl loss (jk), but they have been a consistently good team.  Prior to this season, the last time they won fewer than 10 games was 2003.   VA Tech isn't an elite program, but I don't think you can definitively call it a step down from MSU.  Also, after this year, MSU will  lose a lot of talent  AND they'll be in a tougher division.

 

Alumnus93

December 17th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^

moxiechicago,  I post this to ask you why you think they'll be in a tougher division, for the first thing I think of is that Penn State will lose their coach to the NFL, that we are getting even younger at OL, that Nebraska seems to be imploding, etc.   So please elaborate.

BayWolves

December 17th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

I was hoping Loeffler would come back to Michigan to coach QBs again. Would love to see a I dedicated position coach and he seems to be pretty good at it.

Magnus

December 17th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^

Most teams don't have dedicated QB coaches. 

Also, Logan Thomas completed 57% of his passes for 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions this year. 

Also also, Loeffler has been an offensive coordinator AND quarterback coach for the past three seasons, so I doubt he's interested in coming to Michigan...unless he can be the offensive coordinator AND quarterback coach.

BayWolves

December 17th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

I was hoping Loeffler would come back to Michigan to coach QBs again. Would love to see a I dedicated position coach and he seems to be pretty good at it.

UMMAN83

December 17th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^

makes sense.  Even though MD has beat us, he really doesn't worry me.  Looks like Lansing is a destination.  The fact that he said that ... reinforces that...  its really not. aka Durkin