Published: June 24, 2008 07:56 pm            

Indiana State takes chance on top-rated Washington quarterback

Calvin Schmidtke passed for 2,724 yards last season with 37 touchdowns and five interceptions

TERRE HAUTE — First-year coach Trent Miles was already thrilled to have almost 50 fresh young faces arriving on Indiana State’s campus July 30.

Miles’ smile has grown a bit larger now that he has landed one of the most highly touted recruits in the history of the ISU football program.

Ranked as the 15th best quarterback prospect in the nation by scout.com, Calvin Schmidtke of Tacoma, Wash., will be one of those approximately 50 newcomers preparing to play for Miles at Memorial Stadium.

Schmidtke had signed during the early signing period to play for Washington State, but was released last month from his national letter-of-intent due to a series of traffic violations.

Schmidtke was arrested on a DUI charge in November, he said Tuesday, and could be facing other charges.

He had no comment on further charges, but the Tacoma News Tribune has reported that Schmidtke has received 11 citations from law enforcement in an 18-month span ending in May.

Schmidtke said his problems are in the past.

“I want to make sure this makes me stronger and I learn from it,” he said. “Everyone gets second chances. I want to make the best of it.”

Miles began recruiting Schmidtke as an assistant at the University of Washington for then head coach Tyrone Willingham. Miles checked in on Schmidtke’s recruiting status when he was hired at Indiana State in December and knew of his big-time Bowl Championship Subdivision offers. When Washington State released Schmidtke from his scholarship in late May, Indiana State became a quality option this late in the recruiting process.

The new coach doesn’t expect discipline to be an issue.

“It’s unfortunate [he’s been in trouble], but fortunate for us,” Miles said. “He knows the expectations of this program. He’s known me, he’s known coach Willingham … He knows expectations, he’ll do fine.”

He tossed for 2,724 yards last season, throwing 37 touchdowns and five interceptions for The Lakes High School. He also ran for 10 touchdowns, earning Tacoma News-Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year in addition to Seattle Times first team All-State. Schmidtke transferred before his senior year from Life Christian High School.

Schmidtke is ready to get to work in regard to pursing some strong statistical performances at Indiana State. More importantly, he hopes to make the Sycamores a winner after they’ve lost 31 of the past 32 games, including last season’s 0-11 campaign.

Is Schmidtke disappointed to be playing in the Football Championship Subdivision rather than in the BCS?

“I’m not worried about it. If you’re good enough, you can make it to the next level,” he said, citing former Eastern Illinois quarterback Tony Romo and former Southern Illinois standout running back Brandon Jacobs.

This summer, Schmidtke said he plans to spend a week at the San Diego home of his new offensive coordinator, Spokane, Wash., native Bill Diedrick, to get more familiar with the Indiana State offense.

“I already have a copy of the playbook,” he said.

Diedrick was a standout player at Eastern Washington and has coached the likes of Ryan Leaf at Washington State, Brady Quinn at Notre Dame and Marques Tuiasosopo at Washington.

Schmidtke said he enjoyed his visit to campus last weekend.

“I only spent one day because my flight got delayed, but I liked what I saw,” Schmidtke said. “I’ve got a good relationship with the coaches. They seem like nice guys.

“It seems like a program on the rise.”

Miles is glad to have a guy who will provide heated competition at the quarterback spot, with athletic sophomore Chuck Dowdell expected to be the returning starter.

“He’s got a good arm, can move very well, good pocket presence, good feet, can run, can run the entire offense,” Miles said of his new talent. “Any time you have competition, it’s good. I want that at every position. It’s a good situation for the players on our team, everyone will push to make each other better. Competition is what you’re striving to have in a program.”

Miles has one of the most talented recruits to come to Indiana State, but knows one player does not make a quality football team.

“Probably not in a long time [has ISU had such a highly-touted recruit in football],” Miles said. “But we hope to think that all of our recruits will end up ranked high. He’s a good young man. We’re fortunate. Looking for big things from all of our recruits.”

One knock on Schmidtke has been his size. He grew two inches to 6-feet during high school.

“I don’t get balls batted down, I’ve never had a problem,” he said.

All Schmidtke knows is that football season is right around the corner and he’s a part of a large recruiting class with plans to turn a program on its ear.

“It’s important to have a strong class like that. By the time we’re seniors, we should be pretty tough,” Schmidtke said, not expecting to be the top starter from the start.

“I’ll let that happen, whatever happens that’s best for the team will happen. Hopefully I am the guy, and I’ll get out and do the best. I want to make sure we get a winning program. We’ve got a lot of talent and we’re capable of doing it, especially with this new class.”

        

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