Only the Records Remain : With NCAA Passing Leader Santos Gone, Platt to Give San Diego State Offense a Different Look Against UCLA

SAN DIEGO —  For all the good things quarterback Brad Platt did in his last scrimmage before his San Diego State debut, Coach Denny Stolz seemed to care most about the one play that almost went wrong.

That was the pass Platt threw through the raised hands of a linebacker and into the outstretched arms of a wide receiver. The play was a completion according to the rules of football, but not according to the rules Stolz expects his quarterbacks to follow.

Try that pass against UCLA Saturday night at the Rose Bowl and Stolz figures Carnell Lake is headed to the end zone for a touchdown.

“That could have been a disastrous play for us,” Stolz said. “Hopefully, we won’t see too much of that in the game.”

Stolz has seen it before, though. Quite recently, in fact. Todd Santos opened last year’s game against the Bruins by throwing interceptions on the Aztecs’ first two possessions of a 47-14 loss. And Santos was an experienced quarterback, a four-year starter who finished his career as the most prolific passer in major college football history.

Platt is a junior transfer from Southwestern College in Chula Vista who has never taken a snap in a major college game.

Maybe that is why Stolz is cautious when talking about Platt.

“The unknown is the same with any quarterback,” Stolz said. “He has not performed at our level in a ballgame, and until he does, we can talk all we want, and he is still an unknown.” A virtual unknown taking the place of Santos, who finished his career with 11,425 yards passing. At least Platt has inherited most of the players who last season helped make the Aztecs the second-leading passing offense and 10th-best overall offense in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn.’s Division I-A.

But just because Platt will be playing with a veteran group doesn’t mean he will run the team the way Santos did.

Santos was a quiet leader on and off the field. Platt is talkative and outgoing.

“I can see why Todd was the way he was,” Platt said. “Todd was an even-keel guy. That was his style. I’m not that way. It is hard for me to be that way. I like to show emotion. If I throw a bomb for a touchdown, I’m going to be the first guy down the field congratulating the guy.

“I show it on the field, and I show it when I get in the huddle. Todd was his own person. He did it his own way. I’m the total opposite of him. I don’t know any different. That is just the544694649quarterback. I’ve always been a leader and a voice-your-enthusiasm-type person.”

But there is much else that Platt came to learn and admire while spending last season redshirting. And he did not begin to fully appreciate some of it until the last few weeks, when he found himself about ready to take charge of the team.

“I used to think I knew why he was so good,” Platt said. “Now I know. He was the greatest at reading a defense. He could sit back there and pick it apart. But until you get into that position where he was, you don’t realize how much you learned from just watching him.”

Platt, 6 feet 2 inches and 210 pounds, established himself in spring practice as the likely successor to Santos, who was cut last week after being a 10th-round pick of the New Orleans Saints. Platt’s main competition came from Scott Barrick, a freshman from Fallbrook High School who also sat out last season as a redshirt. But Platt had the edge in experience and maturity.

He also was used to wide-open competition. In his first season at Southwestern, he had to beat out six quarterbacks. Platt had received no major college offers after his senior season at Chula Vista’s Hilltop High School, and he figured Southwestern was his last shot.

“I was excited to go there until I found out there were seven of us competing for the same job,” he said. “I was third on the depth chart when the season started. I figured this was the end of my career.”

Instead Platt found himself the starter by the fourth game. He went on to pass for more than 4,500 yards in two seasons and earn the attention of the Aztec coaching staff. He selected San Diego State without visiting another school.

“I knew this is where I wanted to play,” Platt said. “They were coming off a (Western Athletic Conference) championship season and had a great passing game.”

Platt said it was understood that, barring an injury to Santos, he would redshirt last season. But Saturday night, his patience will be rewarded.

The prospect of starting Platt has Stolz both worried and excited. Although he may fret over Platt’s inexperience, he gets animated when talking about the strong-armed Platt throwing deep to wide receivers Alfred Jackson and Patrick Rowe.

“He throws the long ball about as well as any quarterback I’ve had,” Stolz said. “One of the best things about him is, he is a good athlete. He is quite fast for quarterback. I imagine he will be a difficult target to sack. He will get away from the rush better than Santos, but he has to improve his judgment-making under pressure.”

Platt takes over an offense that lost a starting fullback and three starting linemen. Among those returning are the top four rushers and the six leading receivers.

That is why Stolz has hinted that Platt will succeed or fail on his own ability, that the talent around him will not be his downfall.

“The coach has almost said we could have a mediocre quarterback and still win,” Platt said. “But I want to prove to him that I can do the things Todd Santos can do, if not better. I want to be able to be a great quarterback. That comes with time. As for the receivers, the offensive line and the running backs, I couldn’t have asked for a better group.”

This does not mean that Stolz downplays the loss of Santos, but it has given him reason to be optimistic that with a good performance from Platt, the Aztecs again will have a strong offense.

“Our quarterback will be successful, no matter who he is,” Stolz said. “In our system, the quarterback is going to be productive.”