Herford pleasant surprise

Freshman QB shows fleet feet

He was the top-secret weapon Saturday. Everyone knew he was athletic. But nobody knew where or when it would come out.

For Kansas University freshman Marcus Herford, it finally did at quarterback, where a jumbled web of signal-callers competing for time just got a little more crowded during Saturday’s 36-8 Jayhawk victory over Appalachian State.

Herford came into the game at quarterback in the second half, was used primarily as a running threat and actually had a solid night, rushing for 42 yards on five carries and completing two passes for 16 yards.

He played wide receiver a little in the fourth quarter, but the talk Saturday was of his use as KU’s when-the-time’s-right quarterback.

“That’s not unusual nowadays in college football,” coach Mark Mangino said. “He’s a situational guy, but we’re going to keep building the package for him. He can play at any time.”

Herford certainly has a dimension that Brian Luke and Adam Barmann don’t – the mobility of a running back. Herford had runs of 16 and 17 yards in the 11â2 drives he engineered and also completed two short passes to Marcus Henry.

This week, it was thought of as a possibility that Herford could be a candidate at quarterback, but Mangino played it close to the vest. In pregame, Herford worked with the wide receivers.

It appears the Texas native was the big trick in the coach’s bag.

“He hasn’t been at quarterback for a while,” wide receiver Brian Murph said. “So I think he did an excellent job just coming in there with as little time as he had to prepare for tonight.”

Mangino said the plan all along was to bring him in against Appalachian State. This fall, he has worked primarily at receiver after spending last year as the scout-team quarterback.

Don’t expect the Herford experiment to be a one-game thing. As KU fans saw Saturday, he has some magic he brings to a position loaded with questions.

“He can bring us a little spark, and we’ll continue to add on the package with him,” Mangino said. “When we see fit to insert him or have the opportunity where we need his services, we’re not afraid to put him in the game.”