LAS CRUCES ? One of the priorities for the New Mexico State football team this spring is finding a starter at quarterback to replace three-year starter Chase Holbrook.
A serious contender for the spot is junior college transfer Jeff Fleming. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder played two years at Fullerton Junior College in Fullerton, Calif., prior to signing with the Aggies.
"There are similarities between the offense at Fullerton and the offense here at NMSU and that has helped my transition,"
said Fleming, who threw for 1,900 yards and 24 touchdowns last fall. "But I have to come out here at NMSU and perform. Everyone has something to prove."
The New Mexico State coaches like Fleming's mobility and athleticism. They also like his experience.
"Jeff comes from an athletic family and he's experienced,"
said NMSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Timm Rosenbach. "But our quarterbacks are like freshmen again because they are learning something new. Jeff works hard and he's done some good things in his career."
Fleming, who has been playing football since the age of 5, also had a solid high school career at Brea Olinda High School in California, where he threw for 1,745 yards as a junior and 1,125 yards as a senior.
"I feel like I'm a good pocket passer and I have a good knowledge of the game,"
said Fleming, when asked what his strengths are. "But I'm learning something new all the time and coach Rosenbach is a good coach to learn from. He has a great deal of knowledge."
Fleming isn't the only one in his family to play sports. His father, David Fleming, was a track and field athlete on the 1980 United States Olympic team, which never made it to Moscow because the U.S. boycotted the event.
"My dad talks about that event all the time, it was disappointing,"
the younger Fleming said.
The Aggies are back on the practice field today, Thursday and Saturday to round out week 1 of spring practice. The team will practice 15 times total, capped by the April 25 spring game.
