Presley prepares to start at QB
By Steve Behr
 
Appalachian State backup quarterback DeAndre Presley is used to filling in for starter Armanti Edwards.

Presley, a sophomore, started one game last year when Edwards went down because of a hip-pointer and knee injury and led the Mountaineers to a 35-10 victory over Western Carolina. The week earlier, when Edwards went down, Presley led Appalachian State on a drive that led to a fourth-quarter field goal, in a driving rain, and helped secure a important 24-16 win over Elon.

While Edwards was available for limited workouts, Presley took most of the snaps during spring practice.

Now that Edwards will be out at least two weeks following an accident that left him with a deep gash in his right foot when he slipped and was cut by a lawnmower blade while cutting the grass, Presley will once again get most of the reps with the first-team offense.

“I have to take full advantage of it,” Presley said. “I have to show our coaches that no matter if Armanti’s out, I can continue to run the offense and continue to move forward so they don’t have to worry about anything.”

Appalachian State head coach Jerry Moore has full confidence in Presley’s abilities, but would like to see Edwards get some practice time in before the season starts.

“I’d like to get Armanti some reps,” Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore said.

Presley said he was “devastated” when he heard Edwards got hurt. The Tampa, Fla. native also knows that although he’d like to play, having the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner on the field gives them the best chance to return to the FCS championship game in December.

“You never want such a great guy that you really look up and who you really care about to go down,” Pressley said. “It’s just, how long is he going to be out? How serious is it, because he’s somebody we need on the field. We need him to continue to play. When your leader goes down, it really hurts you.”

He also knows that it is very likely he will be the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback Sept. 5 at East Carolina if Edwards is not ready to return.

“It makes me more focused and more aware to really see that you are one play away, so you really have to train and you really have to work hard and prepare as you are the first guy,” Presley said. “So that way if anything goes wrong, nothing slows down.”

Appalachian State recruited several players who played quarterback in high school during the recruiting season. Two of them, Travaris Cadet, and Jamal Jackson, will stay at quarterback.

It addressed a lack of depth at the position. Last year, starting receiver CoCo Hillary, a quarterback in high school, was the third-string quarterback for the Mountaineers.

Presley welcomes the competition, saying it should make them all better quarterbacks.

“We’ve brought in guys who have equal ability,” Presley said.

“For me, I have to continue to work hard and continue to compete hard and compete strong to maintain this position I am in.”

Presley said he has gained more confidence now that he has played his freshman year and has a full spring practice of experience.

“Last year I didn’t have the confidence because I didn't know anything,” he said. “Only the last couple of months, I’ve had that confidence. I know what I’m doing and that has really helped in my progression.”