Kornacki: Rudock Discusses Decision to Join Wolverines
4/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 9, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jake Rudock, a two-year starter at Iowa, has entered the competition for the University of Michigan's starting quarterback job. The Wolverines announcedThursday(April 9) that Rudock will join the program as a graduate student and will be eligible to compete this coming season.
Rudock told MGoBlue.comon Thursdaynight that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh had a significant impact on him during his visit to Ann Arbor.
"Coach Harbaugh is very energetic," said Rudock, "and I noticed right off the bat how involved he is in practices. I enjoyed our conversations, and one thing is for sure: When Coach Harbaugh walks into a room, he changes the thermostat."
Rudock has known Jedd Fisch, Michigan's passing game coordinator and quarterbacks and wide receivers coach, since Fisch attempted recruiting him at St. Thomas Aquinas High in Weston, Florida. Fisch had just become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami in 2011.
"He tried to get me late in the recruiting process," said Rudock. "I remember he was pretty bummed out when I said no. When I decided to come to Michigan, Coach Fisch said, 'I had no idea I would have to wait four years for you.' I'm really excited to work with him, and we already have a pretty good relationship."
Fisch said, "I am excited for Jake to get here and compete with the quarterbacks that we already have in the program. I've known Jake for a long time, since 2011, and I am excited to be a part of the staff that is now coaching him. I think that Jake brings great maturity and experience to the program."
Rudock (6-3, 208 pounds) ranked second in the Big Ten in completion percentage (.617), fourth in passing efficiency (133.5) and sixth in passing yards per game (203) and total offense (217.7) last year for the Hawkeyes. He threw for 2,436 yards and 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions (fewest by conference quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts), and he meets the main criteria Fisch places on quarterbacks.
"What we want to talk about with each quarterback, first and foremost, is to complete passes and take care of the ball," Fisch said recently. "The ball is gold and you've got to take great care of it. You have to realize your job is to be a point guard -- give assists. And by doing that, it's completing passes."
Rudock echoed Fisch's thoughts on the importance of a high completion percentage and avoiding turnovers.
"I treat the ball like gold," Rudock said. "It's special. The goal is to score more points than your opponents, and it's imperative to control the ball to do that. It's my job to get the ball to our playmakers and facilitate things for our athletes, letting them do what they do best."
He threw for 5,082 yards and 73 touchdowns while winning three state championships and two national team titles at St. Thomas Aquinas, playing for coaching legend George Smith.
"Coach Smith continues to impact me and he's my top mentor," said Rudock. "He really cares about you as a person and helped me evolve as a man."
Rudock played four seasons at Iowa (2011-14) and will graduate this spring with a degree in interdepartmental studies/multidisciplinary sciences. He earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors each of the past two seasons.
Rudock played in 25 career games, completing 417-of-691 passes (.603) for 4,819 yards with 34 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His career passing yardage, touchdown passes and total offense (5,213 yards) rank eighth in Iowa history. Among Rudock's 15 wins as a starter was a 24-21 decision over the Wolverines in a 2013 game at Iowa City.
In 2013, Rudock became the third FBS player since 2008 to pass and rush for four-plus touchdowns in their first four career games, joining Baylor's Robert Griffin III in 2008 and Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel in 2012. Griffin and Manziel both went on to become Heisman Trophy winners.
Harbaugh said afterSaturday's(April 4) spring game that junior Shane Morris had the lead in the quarterback derby but stressed that competition will continue up to theSept. 3opener at Utah and beyond. Freshman Alex Malzone and sophomore Wilton Speight also competed at quarterback during spring drills, and freshman Zach Gentry of Albuquerque (N.M.) Eldorado High will join in the competition this summer.
Rudock, 22, will enroll in the School of Kinesiology and pursue a master's degree in movement science.
"My classes end here (at Iowa) in mid-May," said Rudock, "and I'll get to Ann Arbor right after that. And I hope to get my playbook soon. I'll start studying it right away; there's plenty to learn."
• Michigan Announces Addition of Graduate Quarterback Jake Rudock
