Photo by: GoBearkats.com
2022 Preview: Quarterbacks
8/10/2022 5:39:00 PM | Football
RETURNERS: Trapper Pannell, Keegan Shoemaker, Tristan Brady
NEWCOMERS: Sylas Gomez, Simeon Evans, Jordan Yates
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HUNTSVILLE – A new era of Bearkat Football will see a new quarterback calling the signals in 2022, and early in camp, the competition is wide open.
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The 2021 calendar year included 21 games of Eric Schmid at quarterback, a tenure that saw him lead Sam Houston to 21 total wins and a national championship.
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But an intriguing competition is forming this fall to lead into the September 3 season opener at Texas A&M.
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The room includes six signal callers, but early indications seem to point toward an in-camp battle between returner Keegan Shoemaker and Jordan Yates, a newcomer who spent the past three seasons at Georgia Tech. Additionally, returner Trapper Pannell has shown well in fall camp after being used in various roles in 2021.
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"It's been a healthy competition that has helped us along," Shoemaker said. "The competition hasn't divided us at all. We're trying to stay a healthy quarterback group, which we feel is really elevating the team who can see it as well."
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Shoemaker is the most seasoned name in that group to Bearkat fans after achieving near legend status last year when he stepped in for an injured Schmid and directed a thrilling comeback win over Stephen F. Austin. That was the lone start of the season for him in his first season of eligibility with the Kats after joining the program for the Spring 2021 season, sitting out the national title run due to NCAA transfer rules from Lafayette College.
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"It was a great experience in that game last season," Shoemaker said at. "It really set me up for what is to come this year and what my teammates expect from me.
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So far, through the early portion of camp K.C. Keeler and first-year offensive coordinator John Perry, who joined the Kats from Rutgers but has also served on the coaching staff with the Houston Texans, have been impressed with what they have seen from Shoemaker, noting an ability to make quick reads and get rid of the football as strengths of the Prosper native.
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But even though Shoemaker will be a familiar name to Bearkat fans, Yates comes in with stout pedigree of his own, having played in 14 games for Georgia Tech since the 2020 season. He already holds a degree from GT and last year started six times for the Yellow Jackets, putting up over 200 yards passing against Clemson and having big outbursts against teams such as Boston College and Notre Dame.
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"I play really hard and give my all for my teammates," Yates said. "I try to be as prepared as I can be so I can be smart with the ball, but I can extend the play when needed."
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The Georgia native has three years of eligibility remaining and brings to Huntsville a unique playmaking ability that has the coaching staff and other skill position players excited about what he could bring to the table in 2022.
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"There have been times in camp where Jordan has done things that are very special," Keeler said. "There have also been times where we have seen Keegan do things that are very special, so we are trying to find the guy who will be able to consistently go out there and make plays and give us a chance to win ballgames."
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The Kats also boast four more athletic quarterbacks, including Pannell, a 6-3 sophomore who is entering his third year with the team. He saw action in eight games in 2021, but was primarily used as a running option from behind center. However, his abilities were on full display at multiple points throughout the year, including a 77-yard touchdown run against Southeast Missouri and at NRG Stadium when he pounded in a 4-yard score that proved to be the game-winner over SFA.
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"I've been really happy with flashes of Trapper, but he's got to be more consistent," Keeler said. "We used him a lot in special situations last year, and it was good to get that under his belt."
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Meanwhile, Army transfer Simeon Evans, a dynamic athlete with a family history of productive Division 1 quarterbacks, has continued to progress after spending spring football in orange and white. Third-year player Tristan Brady returns and looks to compete for a role on special teams as well.
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Additionally, coming in as part of the highest rated signing class in Sam Houston football history, the coaching staff has been very impressed with the early returns of true freshman Sylas Gomez from San Antonio.Â
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"Sylas is everything we thought he was going to be," Keeler said. "He's long, athletic and with a great arm. And he studies at a level that is beyond what a freshman would study at. There are some great role models in that room and I think he will benefit from those role models.
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NEWCOMERS: Sylas Gomez, Simeon Evans, Jordan Yates
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HUNTSVILLE – A new era of Bearkat Football will see a new quarterback calling the signals in 2022, and early in camp, the competition is wide open.
Â
The 2021 calendar year included 21 games of Eric Schmid at quarterback, a tenure that saw him lead Sam Houston to 21 total wins and a national championship.
Â
But an intriguing competition is forming this fall to lead into the September 3 season opener at Texas A&M.
Â
2022 Bearkat Football Preview: Quarterbacks #EatEmUpKats
— Sam Houston Football (@BearkatsFB) August 10, 2022
?? https://t.co/Or3h7KlPMi pic.twitter.com/YKNSxAY4BB
The room includes six signal callers, but early indications seem to point toward an in-camp battle between returner Keegan Shoemaker and Jordan Yates, a newcomer who spent the past three seasons at Georgia Tech. Additionally, returner Trapper Pannell has shown well in fall camp after being used in various roles in 2021.
Â
"It's been a healthy competition that has helped us along," Shoemaker said. "The competition hasn't divided us at all. We're trying to stay a healthy quarterback group, which we feel is really elevating the team who can see it as well."
Â
Shoemaker is the most seasoned name in that group to Bearkat fans after achieving near legend status last year when he stepped in for an injured Schmid and directed a thrilling comeback win over Stephen F. Austin. That was the lone start of the season for him in his first season of eligibility with the Kats after joining the program for the Spring 2021 season, sitting out the national title run due to NCAA transfer rules from Lafayette College.
Â
"It was a great experience in that game last season," Shoemaker said at. "It really set me up for what is to come this year and what my teammates expect from me.
Â
So far, through the early portion of camp K.C. Keeler and first-year offensive coordinator John Perry, who joined the Kats from Rutgers but has also served on the coaching staff with the Houston Texans, have been impressed with what they have seen from Shoemaker, noting an ability to make quick reads and get rid of the football as strengths of the Prosper native.
Â
But even though Shoemaker will be a familiar name to Bearkat fans, Yates comes in with stout pedigree of his own, having played in 14 games for Georgia Tech since the 2020 season. He already holds a degree from GT and last year started six times for the Yellow Jackets, putting up over 200 yards passing against Clemson and having big outbursts against teams such as Boston College and Notre Dame.
Â
"I play really hard and give my all for my teammates," Yates said. "I try to be as prepared as I can be so I can be smart with the ball, but I can extend the play when needed."
Â
The Georgia native has three years of eligibility remaining and brings to Huntsville a unique playmaking ability that has the coaching staff and other skill position players excited about what he could bring to the table in 2022.
Â
"There have been times in camp where Jordan has done things that are very special," Keeler said. "There have also been times where we have seen Keegan do things that are very special, so we are trying to find the guy who will be able to consistently go out there and make plays and give us a chance to win ballgames."
Â
The Kats also boast four more athletic quarterbacks, including Pannell, a 6-3 sophomore who is entering his third year with the team. He saw action in eight games in 2021, but was primarily used as a running option from behind center. However, his abilities were on full display at multiple points throughout the year, including a 77-yard touchdown run against Southeast Missouri and at NRG Stadium when he pounded in a 4-yard score that proved to be the game-winner over SFA.
Â
"I've been really happy with flashes of Trapper, but he's got to be more consistent," Keeler said. "We used him a lot in special situations last year, and it was good to get that under his belt."
Â
Meanwhile, Army transfer Simeon Evans, a dynamic athlete with a family history of productive Division 1 quarterbacks, has continued to progress after spending spring football in orange and white. Third-year player Tristan Brady returns and looks to compete for a role on special teams as well.
Â
Additionally, coming in as part of the highest rated signing class in Sam Houston football history, the coaching staff has been very impressed with the early returns of true freshman Sylas Gomez from San Antonio.Â
Â
"Sylas is everything we thought he was going to be," Keeler said. "He's long, athletic and with a great arm. And he studies at a level that is beyond what a freshman would study at. There are some great role models in that room and I think he will benefit from those role models.
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