Ever since three-year starting quarterback A.J. Wingfield ’23 graduated from the Ithaca College football program, the team has brought in numerous quarterbacks to try to keep it moving forward. This has led to three starting quarterbacks in the past two seasons, all finding unique ways to contribute to wins on the field.
During week four of the 2024 season, junior starting quarterback Colin Schumm was benched for junior quarterback Matthew Parker. Parker continued being the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, as Schumm gradually made a shift into other roles. Schumm found himself lining up outside at wide receiver and on the line at tight end, but officially made the switch fully to tight end during the spring.
Offensive coordinator Brandon Maguire said Schumm put on 20 pounds to play the position, and that the team’s focus on athleticism has helped them use players in multiple facets of the offense.
“In the spring, we threw [Schumm] a jump ball and it was like his first day playing tight end,” Maguire said. “It wasn’t a great ball, but he made an adjustment and pulled it in. It’s why we recruit athletes. We like guys that have played defense, we like guys that are physical and seek contact. There’s always somewhere on the field for physical guys that love football and bring some sort of outstanding quality.”
Before suffering an injury in week three that has sidelined him until the week of Nov. 2, Schumm had taken the role of tight end in stride, recording four catches for 37 yards in an offense that only had 17 receptions from all tight ends last season and traditionally does not have much air involvement from the position. Schumm said the move to tight end was a change but he has taken pride in it.
“I needed to lift differently, I needed to run differently, eat differently,” Schumm said. “It was really just like all the small things that a quarterback does to be a quarterback, you just switch it up a little bit with the weight on, a little bit more power. Catching wasn’t a big deal, I’ve played and caught stuff in different sports, but it was different.”
Junior quarterback Mike Reed has arguably made the biggest by a quarterback in other positions this season. Reed also started his exploration into other areas of the team during the 2024 season. Maguire said the team needed some extra reinforcements on special teams and Reed had the right fit.
“Mike is incredibly athletic, strong, tough, loves football and he’s got great hands,” Maguire said. “Mike’s value on the team started last year really with kickoff, because we needed some physical people on kickoff. He went in there and started hitting people.”
After Reed got his feet wet with experience on kickoff, Reed said he wanted more and approached Maguire after the year to bring up the possibility of juggling both quarterback and receiver.
“In my exit interview with Maguire, I talked to him about playing a little bit of receiver or anywhere really on the offense, maybe tight end, just get involved,” Reed said. “They liked me on special teams, they liked the athleticism I showed. I brought that idea to Maguire and he loved it. The spring was the first time that came to light and I started playing receiver, and I just got better and better from there.”
During the first seven games of the season, Reed became a steady presence at receiver, finishing second in receptions during two of those games. All the while, Reed was still taking snaps at quarterback for special option plays, pass plays, or coming in for full halves like during the Johns Hopkins University, Rochester University and Union College games. Up to this point and now with the starting quarterback position under his belt after his first start against Buffalo State, Reed has totaled 585 passing yards, 323 rushing yards, 73 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Reed said that because of his play at both receiver and quarterback, practices have been very hectic, but he enjoys the challenge of it.
“It’s almost like every time I’m not at receiver, I’m at quarterback,” Reed said. “I get a ton of reps and I love doing that. It’s so much fun, I wouldn’t want anything else.”
The team’s focus on athletes and versatility has been echoed by the players. Reed said he believes his ability to do many things on the field can compromise defenses.
“It’s funny, [head coach Michael Toerper] said the other day, ‘Man, if I played defense against you, I wouldn’t know how to really guard you,’ because being versatile is a huge advantage,” Reed said. “Defenses don’t know if I’m going to come in at quarterback, if I’m going to run, throw or go to receiver. It’s super hard to guard for defenses and I think that’s super good.”
Prior to being named the starting quarterback against Buffalo State, Reed was enlisted to play the second half against Johns Hopkins, Union and Rochester. Parker said that despite the natural fire for competition, he supported Reed in his success against the Yellowjackets, a message Maguire also saw on the field.
“Ultimately, at the end of the day, we want to win,” Parker said. “[Against Rochester] I had a bad game and Mike made the most of the opportunity, and I’m so happy for him. I really want to see him on the field, going out there and making plays. I love it when we call ‘QB power’ for Reed or we get a flat to Schumm. It’s so awesome.”
With many competitions in the quarterback room over the past two years and so much athletic talent, Reed said what keeps him on South Hill is not only the culture but the quest to win above all else.
“I love [the coaches] and I love the players,” Reed said. “I have a great friend group that keeps me here and Ithaca’s a top program. Everyone wants to be here. Everyone wants to win. I’d rather be part of a program like this, where I get in here and there and it’s a winning program, rather than going to a program that’s not as successful and playing a lot there.”
