Knights’ rookie QB eager to learn Vedral hails from a family of coaches who helped prep him for college drills
New UCF quarterback Noah Vedral couldn’t be more grateful for all the rain he’s seen since moving to Orlando from Nebraska last week.
“Everyone has been telling me there’s more rain than usual, but for me it might be nice because it’s kind of keeping the temperature down as you ease your way into [living in Florida],” Vedral said. “I love campus, I love the town, so I’m excited for the next four or five years because the first week went so well and sometimes that’s the hardest week.”
Vedral, who was recently voted high school co-boys athlete of the year by the Lincoln Journal Star, is one of two incoming freshman UCF quarterbacks.
He will join fellow rookie Darriel Mack Jr. battling for playing time in the 2017 season.
The Orlando Sentinel caught up with Vedral to discuss his approach to the upcoming season and growing up around a family full of coaches.
“There are parts of it that are very similar to what I did in high school, but there are also parts that are very different. We throw a lot more than I did in high school, which I’m really excited about because I’ve always loved throwing the ball. In high school, that was just not the way our team was built, but I’d say it’s about 50-50. Fifty percent of it is stuff I know how to do and 50 percent is stuff I’m getting to learn for the first time, which is challenging but fun. It’s been unbelievable. The coaches have been great to me in aiding me in the process in taking it in and learning it.
“The guys have been just as helpful too — the receivers in my class and the classes above me catching balls and teaching me routes and stuff like that. And then my dad teaches me what they’re looking at as they run their routes, which is a big help and makes things very clear when you’re trying to take in a whole new scheme.”
“She was unbelievable. I owe her a lot because she really helped me get over that . ... There’s an intimidation factor that comes with learning a new playbook. It’s like eating an elephant. It’s so big and there’s so much to it that it’s a little intimidating and my mom having been an attorney and doing law school, studying for the bar exam and all that big stuff said, ‘Well you’re gonna start somewhere and you’re gonna start right here.’
“She just picked and we started there. She would quiz me and she helped me make notecards, flashcards. She helped me a lot and I owe a lot to her . ... I love my mom and she’s done amazing things for me as a person and a player. I’m sure I’ll be leaning on her and asking her to make me more flashcards if I can’t get something. But she’s awesome and really did help. I really mean that sincerely in that she helped me start. Sometimes starting is the hardest part and once you get a rhythm and a method, now it’s just about diligence and making sure you get to it.” “Man, there’s a lot a quarterback needs to have in their repertoire or back pocket. But I’d probably say understanding on multiple, multiple fronts. Understanding the playbook, understanding the coverage, understanding how your coach teaches, understanding how your teammates learn.
“And then away from the game, understanding how someone is and where they came from and understanding how they are different from you, but understanding that they are the same. I think understanding is a big way of building relationships and trust. Not trying to force your way upon someone but understanding who they are and what they want along with what they need.”
“I’m definitely looking to gain more weight. They’ve been on me about eating, which is good, and I have been making strides. Workouts are hard, but that’s what it takes. I really do feel like we’re making strides in the right direction and it’s just my job to eat, recover and do it again because they’ve got me working hard and doing the right things in helping me put on weight and making me a bigger, faster, stronger and safer football player to avoid injuries and stuff like that. They keep telling me if I don’t have food in my mouth, I’m not eating enough.”
“As far as that whole situation goes, McKenzie is a great player and obviously he’ll start out on the top, but Darriel and I plan to prepare like we’re going to play. I know Pete will too, all of us and every quarterback should because we need the best guy playing on Saturday.
“As far as who plays? That’s up to the coaching staff.
“I hope that I prepare well and play well enough to earn some playing time. If I win the starting job, I win the starting job. If I don’t, I don’t. It’s my job to be the best quarterback that I can be and aid this team in getting better, whether that’s from driving the car or navigating from the sideline signals or on the practice field helping guys with getting the scout team going.”