Jordan Luellen clicks in new role


Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Jordan Luallen (17).

Written by
Bill Koch

One of the unexpected positives that emerged from the injury to University of Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros last season was the opportunity it created for backup quarterback Jordan Luallen.

With Collaros out and Munchie Legaux struggling in his first start in a 20-3 loss at Rutgers, UC coach Butch Jones opted to play two quarterbacks the following week on Nov. 26 vs. Syracuse. In his first substantial playing time at UC, the transfer from Georgia Tech responded by rushing for 82 yards on eight carries in the Bearcats’ 30-13 win over the Orange.

The UC coaching staff took note.

“We saw a lot of it in practice but when he got into game situations you could see that he had another level,” Jones said Tuesday. “He’s one of the best athletes we have on our football team. We’ve got to find a way to get him on the football field.”

With that objective in mind, Jones decided to convert Luallen from quarterback to a hybrid wide receiver/quarterback in an attempt to take full advantage of his athleticism. The transformation is taking place in spring practice and the preliminary reviews have been good.

“It’s getting better and better playing slot,” Luallen said. “I’m getting more used to it, getting more used to the techniques and getting off the ball fast. I’m enjoying it.”

Luallen, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior from Greenwood, Ind., played in five games at quarterback last year. He didn’t throw many passes – he was 2-for-4 for 10 yards – but rushed for 135 yards on 22 carries, providing a spark for the offense and keeping the defense off-balance.

Jones said he started to see things click for Luallen on Monday, the first time he could see that Luallen was playing wide receiver without having to think too much about the mechanics of his new position.

Luallen has played the position only once before, for two games as a freshman in high school, so it’s still foreign to him, but it helps that he has fully embraced the move, understanding that playing wide receiver will enable him to get on the field more often, but also pleased that he’ll still get to play a few series at quarterback every game.

At least that’s the plan at this early juncture in spring practice.

“The thing that is pretty well known that I do best is running with the football,” Luallen said. “They’re still letting me do that so I’m real excited about that.”

Football isn’t the only thing on Luallen’s mind this spring. While a lot of college students spend spring break partying on the beach, Luallen spent his last week in Nicaragua as part of a mission trip with his church back home.

“My dad runs a non-profit organization that helps out in Nicaragua quite a bit,” Luallen said. “Right now the big project they’re doing is building a community center for youth in a real bad neighborhood. I’m going to go back down in the summer to help with that.”

It was his third trip to Nicaragua and each time the trip has made a huge impact on him. The first time he went, he said, he thought he was going to change the lives of those he was trying to help. Instead, he discovered the work helped him because of the perspective the people provided for him.

He has carried that perspective back to Cincinnati and uses it as motivation every time he steps on the practice field.

“Going down there and seeing how happy all those people are with so little and then coming back here and seeing how much we take for granted and how much we waste, its’ unbelievable,” Luallen said.

“It just makes you want to work harder. I come here and I’m getting my school paid for. I’m getting a chance to play football. To come out here and not put everything that I have into it would just be a waste. The people down there they would die for an opportunity like this.”

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120...ext|Sports

Luellen or Luallen, which one Enquirer?

Looks like the Enquirer is looking for someone who can spell names correctly:

Cincienquirer ‏ @Cincienquirer
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Enquirer Media seeks Sports Editor to plan and oversee sports coverage for print and online http://cin.ci/H83k3D

Nice find. Maybe Koch will apply.

Bill Koch can't "lead, motivate, and inspire"..
but he is award winning..LOL

Hopefully the new Sports Editor will come to his/her senses, and
put Koch on HS Sports, with no disrespect to HS coverage

Only if they don't get rid of Mike Dyer for it. One of the few guys at the Enquirer who I actually respect.

No comments on Jordan Luallen? Good article other than the failure of the spell-checker.

(03-30-2012 06:38 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  No comments on Jordan Luallen? Good article other than the failure of the spell-checker.

Love that they are finding ways to get him the ball. Another potential play maker on offense

I'd like to see Luallen get some snaps at halfback this season to be another weapon out of the backfield but Paul Dehner claimed Butch hasn't put that on Luallen's plate as of yet.

(03-30-2012 06:38 PM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  No comments on Jordan Luallen? Good article other than the failure of the spell-checker.

I predict the next time he is about to cross the goal line he won't stumble and fall.