By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University sophomore quarterback Kellen Simoncic was a very valuable backup for the Ichabods a year ago, coming on when All-MIAA quarterback Mitch Schurig went down with an injury and helping WU post two of its biggest wins in a 9-3 campaign.
Sophomore Kellen Simoncic will start the 2022 season as Washburn University's No. 1 quarterback after serving as a valuable backup last season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Now, with the graduated Schurig moving into a coaching role for Washburn, Simoncic is in a transitional stage of his own, taking over as "The Guy'' as the Ichabods get set to open the 2022 season at Yager Stadium Thursday night against Lincoln (6 p.m. kickoff).
"I feel very comfortable,'' said Simoncic, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder out of Smithville, Mo. "Credit to all my teammates that have given me a lot of confidence. When your teammates believe in you it really helps out mentally for yourself. I feel really good.
"I've really been working on my leadership side of everything and trying to be a servant leader to everybody and serve others the best that I can. That's how my parents taught me to do things and that's how I try to do things around here.''
Simoncic redshirted as a WU freshman and had the 2020 season canceled due to COVID before seeing his first on-field action last fall, appearing in seven games with one start.
Simoncic completed 42 of 81 pass attempts for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, including a clutch relief appearance in a 17-16 win over No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri.
Simoncic entered the Northwest game on the fourth play of the day after Schurig was injured and went 15 of 29 passing with two TDs.
Simoncic got his first career start against Central Oklahoma and was 17 for 31 for 193 yards and a touchdown in a 29-17 Ichabod road win.
"Seeing Mitch go down, you never want to see anybody go down, but just having that opportunity to get in there and play and just kind of get my feet wet definitely showed me that I can do this and I can play against the best,'' Simoncic said. "It gave me a lot of confidence and that goes into this year, thinking that I can go against anybody.''
Another thing that helps boost Simoncic's confidence in the fact that he is surrounded by a big group of talented, experienced offensive weapons, beginning with All-American James Letcher Jr. and fellow senior receivers Peter Afful and Collin Wilson.
"I feel so blessed to walk into this situation and have three all-conference receivers and Hunter (Browning) and our tight ends with Trey (Pivarnik), Bryce (Eaton) and Matthew (Simmons) and Taylon (Peters) in the backfield and our returning linemen,'' he said. "How fortunate am I to step into that role and just kind of play?
"All I've really got to do it get them the ball and let them shine and they do a really good job with the ball in their hands.''
Now Simoncic is itching to get things started in Thursday's season-opener against the Blue Tigers, who were 0-10 a year ago.
"I think everybody's going to be kind of nervous-excited, not really nervous in a bad way, and I think just getting out there and playing and going against somebody different will be a lot of fun,'' Simoncic said.
