www.dailybreeze.com/ci_10323732 -
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Published on: 8/28/2008
Last Visited: 8/28/2008
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel sees talent in his unlikely starting quarterback, Kevin Craft.
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Kevin Craft.
Yes, that Kevin Craft.
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"The thing that swayed (Craft) to his decision was not only (offensive coordinator) Norm (Chow) coming in, and Rick, but it's a great school," said Craft's father, Tom.
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Craft spent a year at San Diego State redshirting under his father, who was fired after the 2005 season.He played in nine games, including five starts, the following season, but transferred because he did not like the direction of the offense, nor the program, under new coach Chuck Long.
"I gave it my best shot, but it was uncomfortable," Kevin Craft said.
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Craft spent last season at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, playing exclusively in the shotgun, and under his offensive coordinator-father threw for more than 4,000 yards and 44 touchdowns.
His lone scholarship offer?Hawaii.
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Craft said he had plenty of interest from schools, including Arizona State and North Carolina, but junior college quarterbacks typically do not elicit many scholarship offers.
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Yet, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Craft, even with his father's experience of being the coach at Palomar College before his stint at San Diego State, decided to test the system and bounce back to a junior college rather than transfer to another four-year school.
Now, with the risk paying off, Craft's next deed, perhaps more dicey, is upon him.He is the Bruins' starting quarterback more from necessity, or perhaps divine intervention, than performance.
Craft was entrenched as UCLA's third-stringer as spring practice wound down when the two guys ahead of him, Cowan and Olson, were injured on successive non-contact plays.
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"When he sets his feet ... the problem with Kevin is he's gotten away with some stuff that he's not going to get away with anymore.