Senior Colorado State quarterback M.J. McPeek has yet to see any on-field action for the Rams, but the backup quarterback is getting high praise from new coach Jim McElwain, reports Kelly Lyell of the Coloradoan . Should starting sophomore quarterback Garrett Grayson be sidelined with an injury, it appears McElwain would have no trouble turning to McPeek.
"He brings maturity," McElwain said. "He has an understanding of how to study and how to work, and he’s not selfish. He’s helping everybody. He’s helping the wideouts get lined up, he’s helping Grayson and Conner (Smith, a redshirt freshman QB) with their reads and their signals. It just tells me a lot about who he is, what’s his character, and what he’s all about. So, I’m really proud of him."
Appearing to move up to second string on the depth chart has been a long time coming for the the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Aurora, Colo., native. Last season when starter Pete Thomas went down, then-coach Steve Fairchild skipped McPeek in favor of Grayson, who had his redshirt pulled as a result. It's still not McPeek's team to captain, but should growing pains or injuries befall Grayson, having a vote of confidence from McElwain could be just the break McPeek has needed.
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