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HCC Sports Information
Friday, August 14, 2009
Two former Hutchinson
Community College quarterbacks have been named the starter for their
respective college and NFL teams.
Chris Todd (HCC starter in
2007) has been named the starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers this
season.
Meanwhile, in the
professional ranks, Shaun Hill (HCC starter in 1998 and 1999) will go into
the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason opener on Friday night against the Denver
Broncos as the starting quarterback.
CHRIS TODD
Todd, who initially
committed to Troy University but decided to go to Auburn after playing with
the Blue Dragons, was the Tigers’ starter in 2008. He finished the season
with 903 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. His last pass of the
season came against Arkansas on Oct. 11.
It was determined that
Todd’s right shoulder was damaged and his junior season was done.
Todd told the Dothan (Ala.)
Eagle that he weighed his options during the offseason before opting to have
surgery.
“So many questions pop
through your head,” Todd said in April to the Dothan newspaper. “But the
thing you have to hold your head onto is, if my arm comes back to where it
was, things will be good, things will work out.”
Todd didn’t throw a single
pass in the spring and watched three other quarterbacks, including Kodi
Burns, battle for the No. 1 spot. Burns is who Todd beat out originally,
but who took over once Todd’s season was over.
It took only nine practices
for new Auburn head coach Gene Chizik to announce that Todd would be the
starter in 2009.
Todd, a career 10,000-yard
all-state prep quarterback from Kentucky, came to Hutchinson after a season
at Texas Tech University, playing behind all-conference quarterback Graham
Harrell.
Todd came to HCC in the
spring of 2007. While, at HCC – which was head coach Rion Rhoades’ first
season with the Dragons – Todd played in eight games and threw for 966 yards
with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Todd missed most of the eighth
game against Butler and the season finale against Independence with
injuries.
SHAUN HILL
This is Shaun Hill’s first
legitimate chance to be a starter coming out of training camp.
Hill, who went to Maryland
after HCC and led the Terrapins to the 2001 ACC championship and an Orange
Bowl appearance, was originally signed as a free agent by the Minnesota
Vikings in 2001. He went to the 49ers before the 2007 season.
Hill started and won the
final two games of the 2007 season, but Alex Smith was tabbed the starter by
former 49ers coach Mike Nolan for 2008 camp began. Nolan was dismissed in
mid-season and Mike Singletary took over. Singletary installed Hill as the
49ers’ starting quarterback in Week 9. The Niners went 5-3 over those final
eight games with Hill at the helm.
According to the Associated
Press, Hill worked out with the 49ers’ No. 1 unit on Thursday in preparation
for Friday night’s preseason opener against the Broncos.
Singletary has made no
mention of who will be under center when the regular season opens on Sept.
13, but Hill and Smith are even in their battle for the No. 1 spot according
to Singletary.
Hill remains the No. 3
career passer in Blue Dragon history with 2,948 yards and 23 touchdown
passes. Hill led the 1999 Blue Dragons to a victory over No. 6 Coffeyville,
to the Region VI semifinals and a resounding 32-8 victory over Glendale in
the Valley of the Sun Bowl on Glendale’s home field. |
