Derrius Vick has a varied experience of directing offenses.
The redshirt sophomore quarterback was a two-sport athlete in high school, leading his teams on turf and the hardwood.
A native of Lincoln, Neb., Vick played quarterback for Lincoln Southeast High School, while also earning All-Nebraska first team honors while manning the point guard position for the Knights.
His decision to play football over basketball was an abrupt one, as he spent almost his entire high school career focusing on potentially playing college basketball. But a month before signing day, when Vick didn’t receive offers from his two dream schools, Creighton and Wichita State, he chose football.
“I told everyone from the start that I was going to play basketball,” Vick said. “I didn’t really have many football schools after me. … I just had only a couple schools left, Nebraska and Ohio, and I just felt Ohio was the better pick for me.”
But Vick said that he regrets not being able to focus either sport as much as he could have.
“I don’t know if I balanced it well in getting to play both sports as much as I wanted to,” Vick said. “Right when football season was ending, it was basketball season. And basketball season gets done in the spring, and I played AAU ball in the spring and the summer.
“I wish I could’ve gone back and at least practiced football more or at least decided what sport I was going to play during my junior year.”
Coach Frank Solich has seen a good deal of growth in his backup quarterback, seeing a marked improvement in his game now that Vick’s sole focus is football.
“He was bouncing a basketball all summer,” Solich said. “Right now, he’s throwing the football all summer, and that part of his game will continue to improve, the throwing part of the game.
“And then the knowledge part of the game; When you’re young, you can keep developing that area.”
Vick has been handed an increased role in the offense this season, seeing at least one series of action in every game this season.
Coaches were impressed with his play during camp in the spring and summer, so they see game experience as a reward for his efforts.
“Derrius has played in every game, and that’s probably going to continue,” offensive coordinator Tim Albin said. “We’re very happy with where he is at the quarterback position. … Offensively, if he’s in the game, we’re not going to call it any differently than when Tyler (Tettleton) is in the game.”
His teammates have been equally pleased with his performance this season.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chase Cochran praised what Vick can do with his arm but also his ability to make plays with his legs.
“He’s a great, great thrower,” Cochran said. “He throws a great deep ball, but he’s a good precision passer too. He’s got good feet, and obviously if he gets in trouble in the pocket, he can roll out and make some plays.”
Another reason for the increased playing time is to give Vick game experience and not only to backup Tettleton, but to also prepare him for next season when he could be the one lining up under center as the starter.
Tettleton said he’s offered help to Vick whenever asked, and he’s confident he could fill his role when if he’s injured or when he graduates.
“He’s kind of the whole package,” Tettleton said. “I think he’s going to have a lot of success here when I move on and I’m glad we have somebody, if anything happened (knock on wood) that could come in and provide just as much as I do, or maybe more.”
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