Brandon Folsom - Hillsdale Football: Mark Laprairie exits Spring as top quarterback

HILLSDALE – The process of replacing former Hillsdale College quarterback Sam Landry began this spring.

Sophomore Mark LaPrairie has emerged as the team’s unofficial No. 1 signal caller but has big shoes to fill.

As a senior last season, Landry completed 217 passes for 2,509 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Laprairie, on the other hand, attempted and completed only one pass as a relief quarterback last year.

“I think that’s pretty much been determined here,” said Hillsdale coach Keith Otterbein when asked if LaPrairie will start this fall. “We haven’t had our finally meetings yet, and we’ll talk as a staff (before making a decision).”

Although he is a raw talent, LaPrairie possesses great qualities as a quarterback. He comes from a high school powerhouse in Rockford where his Rams appeared in three consecutive Division 1 semifinal playoff games. He set school records for single season touchdown passes (22), career touchdown passes (39) and career passing yards (3,784), among other historical marks.

Otterbein said he was delighted in how well LaPrairie played throughout the spring.

“Mark has done a good job of managing the football team,” Otterbein said. “He’s taken care of the football.”

If the season were to start today, junior quarterback Jacob Richter would be second on the Chargers’ depth chart while junior C.J. Mifsud would be third.

“From the way they’ve performed here in the spring, all have done some nice stuff and all have made some mistakes in trying to get better,” Otterbein said.

Read full article at Peninsula Daily.

Cam White signs free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts

Cam White, who suffered serious injuries to both knees during his senior season of 2012, never gave up on his dream of playing in the NFL. Now 17 months later he gets his chance.

The former All-American h-back from Hillsdale College signed a free agent contract today with the Indianapolis Colts.

Below is a little glimpse into the hard work he put in as a trainer and athlete at Jared Veldheer's PowerStrength training center since graduation.

Congrats Cam!

Chargers Wrap up Spring Drills Tonight at Muddy Waters Stadium

QB Mark Laprairie

Whether it is fair or not, the biggest question that always swirls around Spring Practice when a team graduates its quarterback is "Who's the next guy going to be?"

Although most Division II schools don't make a big public announcement, the tea leaves around Hillsdale College this extended winter are floating in the direction of current RS-Freshman Mark Laprairie from Rockford.

Laprairie rewrote the passing record books for the storied program north of Grand Rapids and will have 3 years of eligibility to put a dent into the ones at Hillsdale.

Hopefully, Laprairie will get some help from the backfield and the return of Bennett Lewis. Lewis showed glimpses of breakaway talent in the 2013 season opener but was lost for the year due to injury during that game. Emerging alongside is Oklahoman Jake Wiseman. While Lewis will be more of a slasher, Wiseman will provide a change of pace and be the pounder. Both guys will be just Sophomores.

The offensive line is another area where some wholesale changes will be noticed. Currently it appears that a big battle is brewing over who will play where. The unit has had some injuries throw a wrench into early placement. More than likely whoever works the hardest between now and the beginning of the season is going to find himself in the starting line-up. We  know Nate Shreffler is one of the top offensive line coaches in the GLIAC and he will have this group ready.

The offensive group with the most experience is the wide receivers with Evan Bach, the team's leading receiver last season, back for one more go. Junior-to-be John Haley and Sophomore-to-be Joe Srebernak will give Laprairie a number of options and were near the top statistically last year for Hillsdale.

We will take a look at the defense a little later this Spring.