LEC’s Brewster expected to retain year of eligibility

Coach Reilly Murphy did not recruit a quarterback among his 48-player 2020 Lake Erie football class.

That’s pretty good news for LEC quarterback and Perry graduate Kolston Brewster, as he’s hopeful to enter the 2020 season as the Storm’s starting quarterback.

There’s even better news for Brewster and LEC. Murphy said the QB is expected to retain a year of eligibility via a medical redshirt after missing most of 2019 with an elbow injury.

Brewster transferred to LEC from the University at Buffalo after the 2018 season and was the backup to senior starter Javarian Smith. Brewster did see time early in the season before undergoing surgery in Week 4.

The timing could not have been better. To earn a medical redshirt, NCAA rules state a player can’t play more than 30 percent of his or her’s team’s games.

“It’s very exciting know I have for more years to keep improving and creating bonds with my teammates,” said Brewster, who in three games completed 12 of 22 passes for 131 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Brewster, a left-hander, said surgery was done to repair ligaments and tendons in his left elbow. He started throwing about two weeks ago, said the elbow feels good, and is expected to be at or near 100 percent when the Storm begins spring drills around mid-March.

“We’re very excited Kolston is expected to retain that fourth year,” said Murphy.

“Last year he got some game experience, and was close (to Smith). So

that was good. He’s progressing to be 100% by the spring.”

LEC has two other QBs on its roster in Gerald Gardner of Houston and Lawrence Chambers of Richmond, Va. Both will be redshirt sophomores in the fall.

Brewster arrived at Buffalo in 2018 as a preferred walk-on freshman, but the opportunity to return home and play in front of friends and family

— especially his younger brother Kaden, who also a QB — was a factor he considered in his decision.

As a senior at Perry in 2017, Brewster was a Tony Fisher Award finalist after he led the Pirates to a 12-1 season.

He threw for 3,069 yards, 37 touchdowns and completed 68 percent of his passes. He finished his career with 6,116 yards passing and 64 touchdowns.