Football: QB is fast forward

Nate Enderle was cleaning his room when he came across some tapes of his high school football days in North Platte.

“It was almost comical,'' said Enderle, the starting quarterback for a University of Idaho team that is bowl eligible for the first time since 1998. “I just started laughing. There was a huge difference in almost everything.''

He couldn't remember why he brought the VHS tapes along when he arrived in Moscow in January of 2006, a semester early so he could get a head start on classes and weight lifting.

Probably to brag a bit about his high school days, he said. But when Enderle, the state's leading passer as a junior, looks at the tapes, the 6-foot-5, 227-pound dropback quarterback can't believe the difference.

Back in those days, Enderle said, he had no idea about three-step or five-step drops. He just went out and heaved the football.

Now he ranks 18th in the country in passing efficiency (151.3). Earlier this season, he was named the WAC offensive player of the week after completing 18 of 23 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over Northern Illinois. He was 14 of 17 last Saturday against Hawaii.

“I've grown up so much,'' he said. “Every college kid when they are away from home for the first time has to grow up a little bit.''

Enderle's time hasn't been easy. He endured 1-11 and 2-10 seasons, coaching changes and the negative comments that go along with being the starting quarterback of a losing program.

As a junior, though, he's finally reaping the rewards. In his third year as the starter, the Vandals are 6-1 and 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. Fans are ecstatic.

“I'm a popular guy,'' Enderle said. “I get a lot more hellos, good games and smiles this year.''

Quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith said Enderle handled the early adversity well and kept battling. This season, he had a rough outing against San Jose State, when he threw three interceptions, but Smith said Enderle has played well otherwise.

Enderle, who has nearly a 3.5 grade-point average, is just as smart on the field, Smith said, giving him the ability to make calls at the line of scrimmage. He has completed 121 of 188 passes for 1,735 yards and nine touchdowns.

“His work ethic is outstanding,'' Smith said. “Every day, every week, every year he's gotten better. He's got a lot of experience.''

Enderle said that's a big part of the Vandals' change in fortune. When he got his first start as a redshirt freshman against USC, there were some true freshmen in the lineup, too. Now everybody on the offense has starting experience.

“That's huge,'' Enderle said. “Everyone is really well versed in what we're doing, our schemes and what we are trying to attack on defense.''

The offense is also more balanced. Before, Enderle said, the Vandals could run the ball but weren't very efficient in the passing game. That's changed this season, with Enderle completing 64.4 percent of his passes behind a more experienced offensive line.

Plus, they've had a few balls bounce their way. Such as last weekend against Hawaii, he said, when a play that originally was ruled incomplete was changed on review to a fumble, giving the Vandals a first down and an eventual touchdown in a 35-23 win.

Enderle's mom, Belle, and brother, Derek, were at that game. He said his mom and dad Martin usually try to make the away games closest to Nebraska.

They are the ones most excited, Enderle said, about Idaho playing at Nebraska next season. He said that's too far in the future. He still has to think about Nevada, Louisiana Tech, Fresno State, Boise State and Utah State.

“All those teams are pretty talented,'' he said.

Three of those games are at home, so the Vandals have a good chance at adding a few more wins. Smith says Enderle will approach each in his usual business-like fashion.

But he wants his star QB to step back and let this season sink in.

“He's approaching this like a task and a job,'' Smith said. “I want to make sure he's still enjoying this time. Just enjoying the ride and enjoying how fun this is.''

Contact the writer:

444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com

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