Passing the torch: UNT's next quarterback


10:13 PM CDT on Monday, August 22, 2005


By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle


DENTON – An extra set of eyes tracked North Texas senior quarterback Scott Hall wherever he turned last fall.

It didn't matter if Hall was leading the Mean Green down the field on Saturday or joking around with his teammates after practice.

Daniel Meager was watching.

"I tried to learn what it takes to be a college quarterback, besides what you do on the field, from Scott, and then I watched when he played on Saturday," Meager said. "He was a great example."

(PHOTO) GARY PAYNE/DMN
Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager (left) says he gained valuable experience watching senior Scott Hall last season. UNT's season could hinge on Meager's ability to put those lessons into practice. The Mean Green lost Hall to graduation and sophomore Joey Byerly to academic troubles, leaving the Mean Green without a quarterback who has taken a snap in a college game heading into its season opener at LSU on Sept. 3.

Meager, a redshirt freshman from Richardson Pearce, was scheduled to compete with Byerly for the starting job this season. The plan started to unravel when Meager tore a muscle in his shoulder just days into spring practice.

With Meager out, Byerly took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense and solidified his spot atop the depth chart. UNT was forced to change course after Byerly was declared academically ineligible over the summer.

Finding a way to get Meager, or another player, up to speed quickly is the biggest challenge facing UNT this fall, when the Mean Green will look to win its fifth straight Sun Belt Conference title.

"Having a veteran quarterback or solid quarterback play has been the key to winning more games than we used to," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "We have always been able to run the ball effectively.

"Being able to make plays in the passing game and having a quarterback who can give us consistent play has been a big factor in us getting over the hump."

Hall threw for more than 1,400 yards in each of his last three years and finished his career as UNT's passing efficiency leader.

Meager and freshman Matt Phillips have the edge in the race to replace Hall. Phillips has been the surprise of fall practice.

UNT signed the former San Angelo Lake View standout more than two weeks after national signing day. The last player UNT added to its signing class has quickly made his case to be the first quarterback on the field for the Mean Green. Phillips has impressed coaches in practice with how quickly he has picked up the Mean Green's offense and moved to second on the depth chart.

"I've been learning everything I can, listening to Coach [Ramon] Flanigan and talking to the rest of the quarterbacks," Phillips said. "I am not trying to do anything special. I just want to get the job done."

One advantage UNT's quarterbacks will have is working with a coaching staff that has tutored inexperienced quarterbacks in the past. Hall started as a freshman in 2000, and Andrew Smith led the Mean Green to the 2002 New Orleans Bowl as a redshirt freshman.

"Coach Dickey is an excellent coach when it comes to protecting quarterbacks," Hall said. "They will give Daniel what he can handle. That is what helped me succeed and get better every year."

The player who wins the starting job will have several experienced players around him, including the last two NCAA rushing champions in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas.

Flanigan, UNT's offensive coordinator, said those players will help ease the Mean Green's next quarterback into the starting role.

Meager is aiming to be the next young quarterback to start for the Mean Green and put what he learned from Hall into practice.

"I want to take advantage of the situation," Meager said. "I feel pretty comfortable out there. I just have to do my part."

E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

GENERATION NEXT

UNT is looking for a quarterback to replace four-year starter Scott Hall. The candidates, with comments by Denton Record-Chronicle Staff Writer Brett Vito:

Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

Daniel Meager 6-1 180 Fr.
Former SportsDay area top-100 pick is the odds-on favorite to start.

Matt Phillips 6-2 220 Fr.
One of the big surprises of fall practice has moved into contention for No. 1 spot.

Steve Warren 6-1 190 Fr.
Athletic player comes from a run-first system at Burleson.

Kellen Haynes 6-0 200 Fr.
Threw for more than 4,000 yards during his senior season at Crosby.

Jonathan Ieans 6-5 218 So.
Has also played receiver, where he might be a better fit.

Cullen Mills 6-3 227 Jr.
Killeen native and Harker Heights-ex will face a long road to the starting role.