Indiana University Athletics
Lagow Building Camaraderie
2/16/2016 10:20:00 AM | Football
By: Tori Ziege, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Richard Lagow has been busy playing catch-up.
When the junior college transfer arrived in Bloomington little over a month ago, he joined a group of Indiana quarterbacks vying to replace program passing leader Nate Sudfeld in 2016. And as the top-rated junior college pocket passer by ESPN, his arm makes him as good a candidate as any to compete for the starting role when practice resumes in March.
But that's only half of the equation. In order to run Indiana's high-octane offense, Lagow must also earn the trust of his teammates.
And he'll have to do it in a fraction of the time.
"A lot of these guys have been together for three or four years, and I've been here for a month, so I'm a little behind," he said. "I've got to keep up with them and get on that same page."
At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Lagow draws an instant comparison to Sudfeld because of his large build and physical presence in the pocket. But harder to replicate is the camaraderie Sudfeld had with his receivers, something Lagow observed firsthand when came for his official visit.
After watching Indiana take No. 15 Michigan to double overtime from the confines of Memorial Stadium, Lagow followed the Hoosiers' every game in route to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
The synchronicity between quarterback and receiving corps was his biggest takeaway.
"Just how efficient it is, how effortlessly they move the ball because everyone is on the same page," he said. "It's like clockwork. I've got to get to that level and keep this thing going."
Lagow has had little trouble settling in with his Hoosier teammates. He's started to build camaraderie through the little things, like hanging out and watching TV, and through daily workouts, where Lagow said he's has had the best opportunity to prove his commitment.
He's also benefited from an experienced quarterbacks room of players such as rising junior Zander Diamont and rising redshirt sophomore Danny Cameron, both of whom have had valuable time under center in Big Ten games.
"It's getting around them and feeding off what they do," he said. "We've got a great quarterbacks room, work together well, coach each other up. They know a lot more than I do right now, so I'm trying to learn from them."
A month into his time at Indiana, Lagow has made strides with his teammates, in learning the Indiana offense — which he said compares favorably to his offense at Cisco Community College — and toward his ultimate goal of appearing in the Hoosiers' starting lineup.
And if that trend continues, then IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said he sees no ceiling to Lagow's potential.
"I think he does fit exactly what Nate Sudfeld brought to our team," he said. "Very smart guy. He plays in a spread offense, so he understands what we're going to try to do with our tempo and our spread system.
"I really think the sky's the limit."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Richard Lagow has been busy playing catch-up.
When the junior college transfer arrived in Bloomington little over a month ago, he joined a group of Indiana quarterbacks vying to replace program passing leader Nate Sudfeld in 2016. And as the top-rated junior college pocket passer by ESPN, his arm makes him as good a candidate as any to compete for the starting role when practice resumes in March.
But that's only half of the equation. In order to run Indiana's high-octane offense, Lagow must also earn the trust of his teammates.
And he'll have to do it in a fraction of the time.
"A lot of these guys have been together for three or four years, and I've been here for a month, so I'm a little behind," he said. "I've got to keep up with them and get on that same page."
At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Lagow draws an instant comparison to Sudfeld because of his large build and physical presence in the pocket. But harder to replicate is the camaraderie Sudfeld had with his receivers, something Lagow observed firsthand when came for his official visit.
After watching Indiana take No. 15 Michigan to double overtime from the confines of Memorial Stadium, Lagow followed the Hoosiers' every game in route to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
The synchronicity between quarterback and receiving corps was his biggest takeaway.
"Just how efficient it is, how effortlessly they move the ball because everyone is on the same page," he said. "It's like clockwork. I've got to get to that level and keep this thing going."
Lagow has had little trouble settling in with his Hoosier teammates. He's started to build camaraderie through the little things, like hanging out and watching TV, and through daily workouts, where Lagow said he's has had the best opportunity to prove his commitment.
He's also benefited from an experienced quarterbacks room of players such as rising junior Zander Diamont and rising redshirt sophomore Danny Cameron, both of whom have had valuable time under center in Big Ten games.
"It's getting around them and feeding off what they do," he said. "We've got a great quarterbacks room, work together well, coach each other up. They know a lot more than I do right now, so I'm trying to learn from them."
A month into his time at Indiana, Lagow has made strides with his teammates, in learning the Indiana offense — which he said compares favorably to his offense at Cisco Community College — and toward his ultimate goal of appearing in the Hoosiers' starting lineup.
And if that trend continues, then IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said he sees no ceiling to Lagow's potential.
"I think he does fit exactly what Nate Sudfeld brought to our team," he said. "Very smart guy. He plays in a spread offense, so he understands what we're going to try to do with our tempo and our spread system.
"I really think the sky's the limit."
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