I just published an interview I did with former ASU QB Ryan Kealy (LINK) on a wide range of topics. Here are a few extras for Huddle members.
On Ryan Kelley:
"He's got all the raw tools. I've seen him make all the throws, and he's a much better athlete than I could have ever hoped to see before turning on his highlights. He's impressive. He seems to be a really intelligent quarterback. I think ASU should be happy. Obviously they are. I'm excited to see what happens here. I was already excited by some of the talent they've brought in, like Brady White and Bryce Perkins. There are special kids there, and I love that you're throwing Ryan Kelley into the fold. The fact that he and Perkins are Arizona products is a huge piece of this."
On the difference between recruiting today and 20 years ago:
"Back then, my dad said when you commit, you commit. There wasn't this idea that 'I'll commit now, and if something happens I'll go somewhere else.' It was your word, and you were done. That's the way my family was, and Tariq's as well. Coming in, ASU wasn't coming off a rock star season, but we saw that if you do it right, and stay at home, the world is your oyster. I obviously didn't do it right, so at times it got really interesting, but I wouldn't change it for the world.”
On the crowded QB field:
"It's tricky. I think it went both ways at times when I was at ASU. It all depends on the character of the kids. If they're mature enough to respect each other, it can be a really cool process. But 60-70% of the time it doesn't go that way, and you can split your team. Some guys will like one QB, and some will like the other. You hope to God that doesn't happen, and you can't facilitate it by having a two quarterback system. I'm not a fan of that, and I'm hopeful that they pick a starter in the summer, because it just gets more confusing as you get close to the season."
On whether ASU could go into 2016 without a clear starter:
"You can do that, but I'd still name a starter. From there you hope that your decision is justified, and then you can get a big enough lead to justify bringing the next QB in to see what he looks like without having to say 'we'll have one QB play the first quarter and another play the second, and whoever does best will be the starter.' Then again, Graham and the boys have been through this before and it turned out brilliantly. However they choose to play this, is probably going to be the right way."
On the QBs responsibility to lead the team:
"When you have the quarterback doing bad things, you have a serious issue of leadership. When you look at me and I'm not towing the line, it's easier to ask yourself why you would bother to follow the rules. The quarterback is supposed to be the clean-cut team captain, and I was the complete opposite- guy that didn't even shower or clean his clothes."
On the improved talent level of AZ Preps and Ryan Kelley's effect on in-state recruiting
"When you have the top 30 or 40 kids that you have in the state this year, you're no longer competing against the University of Arizona, you're competing against the big boys coming in and stealing kids out of your backyard. You have to control that, and keep the Stanfords and Michigan States out. If Ryan Kelley is the kid I think that he is, and has the career that I think he can have, that's the key to barring the door and opening up the recruiting process in state."
On whether he's surprised that local recruits like Ismael Murphy Richardson have the resources that they do, but still fall into some of the same traps:
It does surprise me a little bit, but you're talking about 17-20 years olds in a position of power. I'm not sure how the current staff handles it now, but we were given a little too much freedom. We handled it poorly. By 'we,' I really mean I handled it poorly. There were athletes I was around that really had it all put together. The Pat Tillmans of the world. They did it in school, they did it on the field, and they did it socially, respectfully. Staying home can be a catch-22. The guys who can handle it, handle it well, and the guys who can't spin out of control.
On Ryan Kelley:
"He's got all the raw tools. I've seen him make all the throws, and he's a much better athlete than I could have ever hoped to see before turning on his highlights. He's impressive. He seems to be a really intelligent quarterback. I think ASU should be happy. Obviously they are. I'm excited to see what happens here. I was already excited by some of the talent they've brought in, like Brady White and Bryce Perkins. There are special kids there, and I love that you're throwing Ryan Kelley into the fold. The fact that he and Perkins are Arizona products is a huge piece of this."
On the difference between recruiting today and 20 years ago:
"Back then, my dad said when you commit, you commit. There wasn't this idea that 'I'll commit now, and if something happens I'll go somewhere else.' It was your word, and you were done. That's the way my family was, and Tariq's as well. Coming in, ASU wasn't coming off a rock star season, but we saw that if you do it right, and stay at home, the world is your oyster. I obviously didn't do it right, so at times it got really interesting, but I wouldn't change it for the world.”
On the crowded QB field:
"It's tricky. I think it went both ways at times when I was at ASU. It all depends on the character of the kids. If they're mature enough to respect each other, it can be a really cool process. But 60-70% of the time it doesn't go that way, and you can split your team. Some guys will like one QB, and some will like the other. You hope to God that doesn't happen, and you can't facilitate it by having a two quarterback system. I'm not a fan of that, and I'm hopeful that they pick a starter in the summer, because it just gets more confusing as you get close to the season."
On whether ASU could go into 2016 without a clear starter:
"You can do that, but I'd still name a starter. From there you hope that your decision is justified, and then you can get a big enough lead to justify bringing the next QB in to see what he looks like without having to say 'we'll have one QB play the first quarter and another play the second, and whoever does best will be the starter.' Then again, Graham and the boys have been through this before and it turned out brilliantly. However they choose to play this, is probably going to be the right way."
On the QBs responsibility to lead the team:
"When you have the quarterback doing bad things, you have a serious issue of leadership. When you look at me and I'm not towing the line, it's easier to ask yourself why you would bother to follow the rules. The quarterback is supposed to be the clean-cut team captain, and I was the complete opposite- guy that didn't even shower or clean his clothes."
On the improved talent level of AZ Preps and Ryan Kelley's effect on in-state recruiting
"When you have the top 30 or 40 kids that you have in the state this year, you're no longer competing against the University of Arizona, you're competing against the big boys coming in and stealing kids out of your backyard. You have to control that, and keep the Stanfords and Michigan States out. If Ryan Kelley is the kid I think that he is, and has the career that I think he can have, that's the key to barring the door and opening up the recruiting process in state."
On whether he's surprised that local recruits like Ismael Murphy Richardson have the resources that they do, but still fall into some of the same traps:
It does surprise me a little bit, but you're talking about 17-20 years olds in a position of power. I'm not sure how the current staff handles it now, but we were given a little too much freedom. We handled it poorly. By 'we,' I really mean I handled it poorly. There were athletes I was around that really had it all put together. The Pat Tillmans of the world. They did it in school, they did it on the field, and they did it socially, respectfully. Staying home can be a catch-22. The guys who can handle it, handle it well, and the guys who can't spin out of control.
