KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Emporia State coach Garin Higgins will enter Friday’s first practice short-handed at the quarterback position — already.
Andre Sloan El, a sophomore transfer from Visalia College of the Sequoias who was expected to compete for the starting job, will be out at least four more weeks after undergoing intestinal surgery.
“I think it’s going to impact us a little bit,” Higgins said at the conference’s media day Monday at the Arrowhead Club in Kansas City, Mo., “because we felt pretty good with some of the things he did in the spring.”
Sloan El’s problems stemmed from something that would seem harmless: two Philly cheesesteaks.
After returning home for the July 4th weekend, the lean, 6-foot-2 quarterback ate two of the sandwiches before working out.
He had problems digesting the food and emergency surgery was needed.
“That’s part of the things that happen,” Higgins said. “You can’t control those things.”
The surgery happened in mid-July and required a minimum sit-out time of six weeks. If all goes well, Sloan El tentatively could be back in practice in late August, but that would give him only about 10 days to be ready for ESU’s first game against Western (Colo.) State.
Higgins said it was unlikely Sloan El would be Week One’s starter.
“He’s not done for the year,” Higgins said, “but the thing you worry about is him being able to get the repetitions necessary for a quarterback, especially putting in a brand-new offense.”
Sloan El, though never named the starter, showed signs in spring ball that he could emerge to be ESU’s No. 1 guy.
Not only did he impress coaches with his athleticism and ability to grasp the spread offense, he also added 15 pounds to his frame, bulking to 200 pounds from 185 before returning home in July.
“He progressed from the first scrimmage we had out in the snow to the Spring Game,” Higgins said. “The kid got better from Week One of spring practice to Week Four of spring practice. We felt good about that.”
The setback likely opens the door for one of three ESU quarterbacks to step into the starting role: junior Ben Purkeypile, sophomore Eric Runge or true freshman Zach Rampy.
Purkeypile, who started all but one game for the Hornets last year, would seem to be the favorite. He threw for 1,525 yards last season and contributed 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“(This) gives Ben Purkeypile an opportunity to step up and say, ‘Hey, look, I want to be the starting quarterback at Emporia State. I want to be the guy to lead this football team and lead this football program,’” Higgins said. “I think it gives an opportunity for other football players, once camp gets started, to step up.”
Higgins said most important for Purkeypile would be to play within himself.
“He just needs to go out and relax and get into the flow of the game,” Higgins said, “because you know what, he’s got one of the strongest arms I’ve ever been around. The kid’s got an arm now. He’s got all the physical attributes you want to have for a quarterback.”
Runge, a 6-foot-1 quarterback from Wichita, played on ESU’s scout team last season.
Perhaps the most intriguing option would be Rampy, a two-time All-State quarterback at Blue Valley High School and last season’s winner of the Simone Award as the most outstanding player in Kansas City.
Listed at 5-11, 170 pounds, Rampy attended team workouts this summer.
Though freshmen quarterbacks usually are redshirted their first seasons, Higgins said he wouldn’t hesitate to play Rampy if he earned the starting nod.
“He’s going to have an opportunity,” the coach said. “I think we’re in a situation right now where anyone who comes in, we’re giving them an opportunity.
“As we told our guys when we first got here, there’s not a depth chart right now. Everybody is going to be held accountable every week in preseason camp.”
MIAA Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri State (9) 81
2. Pittsburg State 71
3. Washburn (1) 59
4. Central Missouri 55
5. Missouri Western 53
6. Truman 41
7. Missouri Southern 35
8. Emporia State 29
9. Fort Hays State 16
10. Southwest Baptist 10