Article

Six Mavericks are changing positions this spring

Quarterback converts to tight end

April 18th, 2005
By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO Matt Bykowski was the jewel of the 2003 recruiting class at Minnesota State, a highly regarded quarterback off a very successful football team at Eden Prairie.

But after two seasons of watching, the Minnesota State sophomore is ready for action, even though he's moving to tight end.

"I just want to play," Bykowski said. "I'm already two years into this. If I can't play quarterback, I just want to get onto the field. I don't want to be a backup all of my career."

Spring football is a time to teach fundamentals, to concoct and implement offensive and defensive schemes and to check the progress of offseason workouts.

It's also time to experiment, moving players to different positions to see where they best fit into the program.

"We've been very pleased with every change we've made," coach Jeff Jamrog said.

Six Mavericks are making position changes this spring, the most prominent being Bykowski, who redshirted as a freshman and was the backup quarterback last season, playing in just five games and completing 2 of 8 passes for 18 yards.

"All I want to do is what the coaches want me to do," Bykowski said. "I think I have a good chance of playing and contributing to the team."

Others who have switched positions this spring are Carl Cannon, who moved from the defensive line to offensive line, as did Joe Batters, though he's not participating in spring practice because of injury. Ryan Steele, a former quarterback, was an undersized tight end last season, but he's moved to receiver, where the Mavericks hope to take advantage of the 6-foot-5 Steele's height advantage over cornerbacks and safeties.

That leaves a gaping hole at tight end, where Kurt Sand, Brock Paulson and Steele combined for 23 receptions and 232 yards. Dan Harke and Nick Nalezny were both defensive linemen last season, but they will compete with Bykowski and senior Jesse Pfeifer.

"All of the tight ends are showing signs of promise," Jamrog said. "They all bring something different."

The quarterback position has changed since Bykowski signed with Minnesota State. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, he was a pocket passer. However, the offense has changed, requiring a more mobile quarterback.

So he and Jamrog looked around the lineup, finding a position to take advantage of Bykowski's size and athletic ability. It's not uncommon for a high school quarterback to end up at tight end in college.

"We don't move a guy if we don't think it's better for him and better for our football team," Jamrog said. "If he had said no, we wouldn't have moved him, but he's a team player. He said he wasn't going to leave the program, and that's a good sign. He just wants to get on the field, and if he continues to work, he'll be out there next year."

For Bykowski, the toughest transition has been the contact. As a quarterback, he absorbed the hits. Now, he gets to initiate contact, though it doesn't come naturally.

"I think (it took four days) before I got a decent block," he said. "The physical part (of playing tight end) has been different, and it's going to take a while to get used to that. Hopefully, by next fall it will be easier."

He also misses being part of every play. When he played baseball in high school, he was a pitcher or catcher because he couldn't stand the down time, waiting for a ball to get hit to him. In football, he's been trained to do something on every snap.

Having played quarterback, he already knows the tight end's assignment on each play. He just has to get used to only seeing the football a few times each game.

"I've played quarterback for the last 10 years," Bykowski said. "I'm used to being the leader. But I've really missed the competition of playing in a game."

 

Pat Christman

Minnesota State sophomore Matt Bykowski (front) is switching from quarterback to tight end this spring, hoping to improve his chances of playing this season.