The race for Georgia Southern’s starting quarterback job just got more interesting.
Northern Illinois freshman Billy Lowe is headed to Statesboro and will join the team next month, his father Joe said Monday afternoon. Billy confirmed his decision in an email.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound left hander will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting the 2006 season, his first at NIU. He was officially released by the Huskies around noon Monday.
First-year Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher – who said he couldn’t comment on the transfer yet – has had his eye on the quarterback since Lowe’s senior year at Lakeland (Fla.) High School, the elder Lowe said.
“Coach Hatcher and I have talked on many occasions,” Lowe said. “I’ve been up and met with him when he was at Valdosta State, and he’s been to my home. He’s liked Billy from Day One, and finally Billy made a decision that he wanted to go play for Coach Hatcher.”
Northern Illinois’ offensive scheme wasn’t the best fit for Lowe, who also missed the South’s warm weather. Per NCAA rules, athletes can transfer from Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) teams to Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) programs and be eligible immediately, without sitting out a season.
At Georgia Southern, Lowe will be up against last year’s starter, junior Travis Clark, and redshirt freshman Kyle Collins, who has established himself as the team’s No. 2 quarterback this spring. Sophomore Chris Griffin – Lowe’s high school teammate – was in the mix before Hatcher began evaluating him at defensive back last week. Signee Lee Chapple will also vie for the job.
Lowe, whose older brother is a senior wrestler at the Southern Conference’s UNC-Greensboro, was a two-sport athlete at Lakeland, competing in football and wrestling. Lowe played predominately as a linebacker before starting at quarterback his senior year and leading Lakeland to a perfect 15-0 mark, the USA Today national title and a Class 5-A state championship.
As a senior, Lowe was 91-for-157 for 1,260 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 441 yards and eight scores on 80 carries and was named the MVP of the California-Florida All-Star game, which featured current University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Lowe originally committed to Florida Atlantic out of high school but de-committed and opted to head to Northern Illinois. Georgia Southern jumped on the radar as soon as Lowe learned of Hatcher’s January hire.
Lowe plans to be in Statesboro by May 15, in time for GSU’s first summer term, and will begin working out with the team immediately.
“We are great supporters of Coach Hatcher, and I’m just glad to see my kid come south,” Joe Lowe said.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
Northern Illinois freshman Billy Lowe is headed to Statesboro and will join the team next month, his father Joe said Monday afternoon. Billy confirmed his decision in an email.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound left hander will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting the 2006 season, his first at NIU. He was officially released by the Huskies around noon Monday.
First-year Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher – who said he couldn’t comment on the transfer yet – has had his eye on the quarterback since Lowe’s senior year at Lakeland (Fla.) High School, the elder Lowe said.
“Coach Hatcher and I have talked on many occasions,” Lowe said. “I’ve been up and met with him when he was at Valdosta State, and he’s been to my home. He’s liked Billy from Day One, and finally Billy made a decision that he wanted to go play for Coach Hatcher.”
Northern Illinois’ offensive scheme wasn’t the best fit for Lowe, who also missed the South’s warm weather. Per NCAA rules, athletes can transfer from Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) teams to Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) programs and be eligible immediately, without sitting out a season.
At Georgia Southern, Lowe will be up against last year’s starter, junior Travis Clark, and redshirt freshman Kyle Collins, who has established himself as the team’s No. 2 quarterback this spring. Sophomore Chris Griffin – Lowe’s high school teammate – was in the mix before Hatcher began evaluating him at defensive back last week. Signee Lee Chapple will also vie for the job.
Lowe, whose older brother is a senior wrestler at the Southern Conference’s UNC-Greensboro, was a two-sport athlete at Lakeland, competing in football and wrestling. Lowe played predominately as a linebacker before starting at quarterback his senior year and leading Lakeland to a perfect 15-0 mark, the USA Today national title and a Class 5-A state championship.
As a senior, Lowe was 91-for-157 for 1,260 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 441 yards and eight scores on 80 carries and was named the MVP of the California-Florida All-Star game, which featured current University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Lowe originally committed to Florida Atlantic out of high school but de-committed and opted to head to Northern Illinois. Georgia Southern jumped on the radar as soon as Lowe learned of Hatcher’s January hire.
Lowe plans to be in Statesboro by May 15, in time for GSU’s first summer term, and will begin working out with the team immediately.
“We are great supporters of Coach Hatcher, and I’m just glad to see my kid come south,” Joe Lowe said.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
