Nic Kiekover (Holland Christian) — Tate Forcier

• Spirit animal — Gallus gallus domesticus

After a history of producing quality NFL running backs one after another, a virtual pipeline for backfield talent to the NFL, the University of Miami (FL) has developed a nickname.  They call the Hurricanes “Tailback U.”  Holland Christian may not be on quite the same level as Miami, but after producing three consecutive all-star quarterbacks (three and a half if you count ex-Maroon, current-Tigers QB/WR Willie Snead IV), it may be time for a new nickname for the Maroons: “Quarterback High.”

The pedigree is legit.  The past two signal callers to don the maroon and white now lace up NCAA Division-1 cleats (Kirk Cousins, now tearing up the Big-10 for MSU; A.J. Westendorp, busting his chops for CMU).  Current Maroons quarterback Nic Kiekover is the next in line, and he is representing his legacy well.  With a very particular combination of speed, skills and football savvy — the amalgamation of which calls for comparisons to University of Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier — Kiekover could very well claim his own scholarship soon.

Kiekover has an accurate short-to-intermediate passing game, and an impeccable sense of timing and understanding of his receivers’ routes.  Even in the driving rain, as he was in the Maroons’ Round-1 victory over Spring Lake (sideways rain, no less), Kiekover picks apart the defensive secondary with precision.  However, like many young quarterbacks his accuracy decreases in inverse proportion to the distance of his pass, so Kiekover isn’t the type of quarterback you’ll see throwing streak routes on a regular basis (even though some may say he has the arm).

Kiekover is as undersized in comparison to his high school opponents as Forcier is to his Big-10 opponents, so he’s not breaking many tackles. He also doesn’t have the lightning quickness of the most athletic quarterbacks.  Even so, Kiekover is a threat to scramble at any time because he has just enough zuzu to make defenders swing and miss, and speed to pick up yardage in chunks.  But while many quarterbacks with elite speed look to tuck the ball and run as option-1B after merely a cursory look downfield, Kiekover is always looking to get rid of the ball — and the Maroons are better for it.  Like Forcier, he uses his speed and agility more to buy his receivers time to get open than to pick up yardage.

Kiekover’s defining characteristic is what really prompted the comparison to the U-M phenom.  It is not his ability to pick apart defenses with the pass, nor is it his propensity for picking up crucial third-down yardage on the ground.  What makes Kiekover truly fun to watch is his ability to buy time with his legs.  Your traditional pocket-passing quarterback has about 3-seconds to get rid of the ball before defenders are on top of him and he gets sacked.  Same thing goes in Kiekover’s case.  Except that three jukes, a stiff-arm and a reversal of field later, and it might be 10-12 seconds before he eventually completes a pass to an open receiver.  It’s an invaluable ability, and one that translates particularly well to the collegiate ranks, especially given the collegiate offensive schemes at “Quarterback High.”

Being the Maroons’ quarterback is a heavy mantle to carry.  Even at 5-foot-9 and 160-pounds, Kiekover’s proven himself up to the task.  He’ll tell you the same, if you can catch him.

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Willie Snead IV (Muskegon Heights) — Antwaan Randle El

Snead IV's experience at Holland Christian has prepared him for success at Muskegon Heights

Back in his days at Indiana University, Washington Redskins’ wide-receiver Antwaan Randle El played quarterback.  He played it well, too, setting all sorts of records and even dropping U-of-M at the Big House his senior year (I didn’t speak the whole ride home from Ann Arbor).  Randle El switched to wideout upon being drafted into the NFL, and while he remains among the better slot receivers in the league, his previous experience behind center provides an added element of versatility to his game (see: Super Bowl XL).

Turn all that upside down (besides the NFL aspect; let’s not get ahead of ourselves, here) and you’ve got Muskegon Heights’ quarterback Willie Snead IV.  Snead IV’s migration from wideout in 2008 to quarterback in 2009 has at once demonstrated his versatility and cultivated a unique skill-set that has propelled him to success in either role.

Last year, Snead IV lined up as a wide receiver for Division-4 state champion Holland Christian.  Catching passes from standout quarterback A.J. Westendorp (now with CMU) during Holland Christian’s title run gave Snead IV the opportunity to a) gain experience, and b) showcase his undeniable athleticism on the big stage.  At the same time, Westendorp demonstrated to Snead IV exactly what it meant to be a leader.  Fast forward to today, and Snead IV is now playing the leadership role for a Tigers team with aspirations of claiming shiny objects at Ford Field.  And so far, it appears Snead IV was taking notes last year.

The Tigers’ offense is a version of the spread-offense very similar to that run by Indiana during Randle El’s heyday.  It’s geared toward Snead IV’s strengths, and it’s very tough to stop.

It’s an offense designed to create running and throwing lanes at the expense of protecting the quarterback.  But when you’re sporting a quarterback like Snead IV or Randle El — one who can make most defenders dive at the air behind him with ease — that’s not so much of an issue.  What makes the Tigers so formidable isn’t Snead’s ability to rifle accurate passes to his receivers, nor his ability to turn a broken play into a 15-yard gain with his legs (electric jukes, thy name is Snead).  What makes the Tigers so formidable is Snead IV’s consistent success in deciding between the two options.

And there’s no denying the impact he’s had.  Last year, sans Snead, the Tigers went an abysmal 2-7 overall.  This year the Tigers started the season with a bang, putting 46-points up against defending champion Muskegon Oakridge in a win that ended out as a loss.  Then they dropped 75-points on an overmatched Grand Rapids Central squad.  At 1-1 (or 2-0 with an asterisk), Muskegon Heights looks to have a legitimate shot at Ford Field.

The question — that will need to be answered in the affirmative for the Tigers to fulfill on their potential — is: Can Snead IV lead his team when things are going badly?

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Former Rockford wide-receiver Bryan Anderson made the jump to CMU in 2005, and has since flourished for the Chippewas (CMU’s all-time leader in receptions and touchdown receptions) due in part to his experience and training as a Ram.

Jeff Chaney of the Grand Rapids Press put together an in-depth feature about Anderson.

From The Grand Rapids Press:

And after leading his Maroons to a state championship in 2008, former Holland Christian quarterback A.J. Westendorp will be whipping tight spirals to his fellow W-Mich alum at Central Michigan, and is taking his time learning the protocol of football, and life, at the collegiate level.

Additional West Michigan alumni playing for CMU

• Steve Winston — DE — Muskegon Heights
• Jake Bentley — LB — Grandville
• Anthony Quinn — OL — East Kentwood
• Darren Keyton — OL — Traverse City West
• Nick Reynolds — OL — Kalamazoo Central
• Rocky Weaver — OL — Harper Creek
• Jake Ekkens — LS — East Kentwood

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