UVa Transfer Quarterback Metheny Joins Team
Head coach Joey Jones working with the field goal unit during one of South Alabama’s Spring scrimmages.
Transfer quarterback Ross Metheny graduated from the University of Virginia just two short weeks ago. He earned his degree in sociology in only three years, now he is at the University of South Alabama entering the masters program and looking for playing time at quarterback.
Metheny is a 6’3″ 205 pound quarterback who played two seasons at Virginia. He has a little over two weeks to get settled in before the Jags being fall practice. But he will need to make a quick impression on Coach Jones and Coach Matthews.
Metheny played in a pro-style offense while at Virginia. He was 15 of 19 for 207 yards adn three touchdowns. His game against Florida State as a redshirt freshman in 2010 was his best performance where he hit on 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Metheny has two years of eligibility left and is eligible to play this season per NCAA Rules since he is transferring to a school to persue his masters.
“Just a couple of Fridays ago I graduated from college, which in itself is a big accomplishment,” said Metheny. “Then the next day I started my journey down here. I finally got the first week under my belt. Its been great to jump in and start working out with the guys and going through the workouts with coach Schwind (the Jags strength and conditioning coach) and doing 7-on-7 and things like that. I’m just trying to mix in with my new teammates and get to know each other and learn about each other. It’s still a learning process but it’s good to finally be here.”
“Luckily I’m not taking classes this month so that leaves me a lot of free time,” Metheny continued. “It hasn’t been as tough (a transition) as you would think. I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by good people and they’ve helped me make the steps I needed to make along the way and they’ve put me in situations to be successful so it’s been pretty easy and pretty smooth. I’m just looking forward to keep going.”
“Luckily, while I was still at UVa, coach Matthews sent me the hard drive of the playbook so I was able to learn it while I was still up there and kind of get a grasp of it this spring and summer while I was still there,” Metheny said. “I come over to the football building and get three or four hours a day of just studying and asking questions and watching film, really trying to nail down the offense. I would like to think I have a better good handle on it now, I just need to practice it.”
Metheny is ready for the challenge and competition for playing time. “I’m excited to finally get on the field with my new teammates,” he said. “Me coming down here, it wasn’t about me. It was about this program and the people who are already here and if I can help them win games in any way possible, that’s what it’s all about. I think it’s a neat opportunity to be able to start up with a program at zero, this being their first year in Division I football. We’re setting the bar for what South Alabama football is going to be. That’s a neat opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of it and I’m excited to start working for it.”
Coach Jones spoke about Metheny’s place in the offense, “I think it depends on him. “He’s a very intelligent young man, there’s no doubt about that. Going out and being able to do something – really, in a two-week period we kind of start finalizing things, not that it’s over but you kind of have to give reps, especially at quarterback, to the top two guys and so we just need to figure out where he is at that point. It’s very tough and they’ve got to fight for reps. One thing about our guys, they know they have to compete for any position on the field and they understand when it gets to game week we’ve got to really narrow things down, so whoever wants to play better get out there and do something early.”
As for playing time, Coach Jones said it’s there for him to grab as well. “We wouldn’t have brought him in here if we didn’t think he could (play),” Jones said. “He’s a tall guy and he can run and throw and he’s intelligent. We’ll just have to see how fast he can pick up on things.”