ARTICLE TOOLS

E-mail story

Comments

Printer friendly version

iPod friendly version

Share This

Text Size: A A A A

Georgia: Fairchild’s focus on football, Tigers' new sets

By: Lindsey Young
(Contact)

Included in this article

Staff Photo by Patrick Smith-- Ringgold quarterback Zac Fairchild was selected as a member of the 2008 Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen. Photo taken July 13, 2008.

RINGGOLD, Ga. — Options are a very big thing with Zac Fairchild these days.

Option, as in the spread option, the passer-friendly offense the Ringgold senior quarterback will lead this high school football season. And options, as in the possibility of choosing between two big-time sports after his prep playing days are over.

In other words, life is good for the 6-foot-4, 226-pounder, who also excels on the baseball diamond for the Tigers. His 90-mph fastball helped earn him a berth on the Times Free Press All-North Georgia baseball team this past season and will no doubt get the attention of pro and college scouts next spring.

For now, though, Fairchild is concentrating on football, where the three-year starter is eager to take the training wheels off the team’s new offense.

“I’m really excited about our offense,” he said. “We’re going to a spread offense out of the shotgun. We’ll run a little zone read out of it, and between Martez Eastland running and me passing, we can keep defenses honest and put up some good numbers.”

To prepare for the new offense, which requires the quarterback to keep the ball and run on occasion, Fairchild has worked extensively on his agility and speed. He may not resemble University of Florida star and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow — who manages a similar offensive system with the Gators — but Fairchild’s improvement was enough to convince coach Robert Akins that he could handle the running aspect of the offense.

“Coach told me last year I was a little slow to be running,” Fairchild said, “but this year I’ve got my speed up and more confidence in my ability. I worked all summer and ran 40s like crazy.”

Akins has seen other improvements in his quarterback.

“His confidence has improved from last year,” Akins said. “He’s had the opportunity to visit colleges like Alabama, Tennesse and South Carolina. He’s talked to Steve Spurrier and all these big-name coaches. He’s not arrogant — he’s humble and very respectful — but it’s helped his confidence.

“You’re going to see a very improved Zac Fairchild, one that’s going to make better decisions. He threw for 1,500 yards last season, and I think he’ll throw for a lot more than that.”

Comments