Former Dallas area star QB and UConn signee Richard Lagow working back to D-I ranks from Cisco C.C.

The second time around is not always the sweetest but for former Dallas area high school star quarterback Richard Lagow the first time around was not necessarily that great anyway. Now the former University of Connecticut turned former Oklahoma State walk-on is looking to find a new Division-I home via Cisco Community College, and tearing it up in the process.

Lagow graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2013 holding 12 scholarship offers. He made his way to the East Hartford campus but after UConn’s previous staff had split up. New elements to the Huskies staff left Lagow without a connection to the coaches and an unsure feeling about his future on the gridiron. The gut instinct from the Texas native proved to be very insightful.

Head coach Paul Pasqualoni was dismissed from the team a couple of games into the 2013 season taking a spot with the Chicago Bears as their defensive line coach, now with the Houston Texans. The dismissal paved the way for T.J. Weist to become interim head coach being promoted from offensive coordinator after Pasqualoni was fired. After the 2013 season was completed with Weist posting a 3-5 record Bob Diaco took over at the helm.

UConn has continued to win in the AAC through all the coaching changes but a spot among the uncertainty for a freshman quarterback going forward is a risky proposition. Will the offense executed by the new staff fit his abilities? Will Lagow be “their guy” or will he just be an arm on the practice field while the new staff recruits a signal caller that they wanted?

After fall practices broke Lagow left the UConn program opting to walk-on at Oklahoma State, another move that did not prove to be fruitful for his immediate future, the Cowboys were loaded with players under center leaving little space for him to work his way into the mix for playing time.

Lagow redshirted in 2013 but spent time in the OSU weight room coming out of Stillwater bigger, stronger, and faster. He also came out of 2013 and into 2014 a veteran of the collegiate football experience, just not on the side he had hoped.

Looking for a new opportunity and a way to go back through the recruiting process to find a new home he transferred to Cisco C.C for the fall semester. During Lagow’s redshirt freshman season in 2014, now at 6’6”, 240 pounds, he threw for 2,900 yards with 29 touchdowns showing the true Texas gunslinger mentality that made him a prized recruit in high school.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Lagow to dig deeper into a tough situation that is shaping up for a Hollywood movie ending.

 

Richard, unfortunately your journey is not a new one for collegiate athletes but your story is still very unique. Please breakdown the time from National Signing Day 2013 to your time with the Huskies.

“I was committed to UConn for 6-7 months. Around signing day they got a new offensive coordinator and my recruiting coordinator left, he went to North Carolina State. When all of that happened I was thinking I was not sure I wanted to sign on signing day. I might want to see if I can find another spot, so I didn’t sign on signing day. Naturally that made the coaches mad. They wanted to know why I was not signing and they’re calling me wanting to know what is going on.

“A week or so later I still signed with UConn. I get there and all these coaches that had recruited me were gone. I felt out of place the whole time I was there. There’s some great people there, there really is but when it comes down to it I was one of two kids from Texas on the team. I didn’t have a relationship with any of the coaches. I had some good friends on the team, but I just didn’t feel right. I was there for fall camp and after fall camp I went back home.”

What happened in the fall of 2013 for you?

“When I left there – the reason I left because one of my coaches (high school) told me Oklahoma State said they needed a quarterback and I could transfer in. Oklahoma State was a school that was recruiting me in high school. That popped out to me.

“I decided to leave because they needed me as I was told because I was not in direct contact with them. When I got there they definitely did not need a quarterback. I’m not sure if that is what they said but they did not need a quarterback. In the fall I redshirted and got a lot of work in the weight room. That’s when I made the jump from what I was in high school to what I am now, being in the weight room.

“Spring ball passed and I was getting limited reps. They didn’t need a quarterback, they had several kids that were my age or one year older. I’m not saying I couldn’t play with those kids or against those kids because I am confident in what I do. What it comes down to is getting enough reps.

“I wish I would have gone to JUCO after leaving UConn. I can’t change that now. I’m in the situation I’m in now for a reason. After summer workouts at Oklahoma State that’s when I got to Cisco.”

How did your freshman season with the Wranglers go for you and for the team?

“We started off 1-1 but ended the season 2-6. Junior college ball – it is different than anything I had ever been around. I got to the Cisco campus on August 1. Our first game was August 28. So not only do you have just those 28 days to practice and get ready you have 28 days to build a relationship with your teammates. You have to find out quick how your guys are going to do this. It was really weird that first game of the year because your still looking at guys like “what’s your name.”

“We went 2-6. This spring was great. If I get the ball in the fall I’ve been with the same guys since spring ball and all offseason of course and we’ll get some work in the summer. Fall camp will be the icing on the cake. Coming into the fall it’ll be a lot better because I’ll have more time to get used to everybody.”

What makes you a good quarterback?

“I’ll stand in take a hit to throw the ball. I’m a good pocket passer. I move well inside the pocket and outside the pocket. I’ll stand in there and take the hits. I have a strong arm and I’m accurate and I’ll get the ball to playmakers.”

How far can you throw the ball on a one-step drop?

“One-step? Probably 55 to 60 yards, if I’m loose.”

Breakdown your thought process as a quarterback when you step up to the line for your pre-snap read.

“I have the freedom to change the play and audible. If it works, our coach is happy, if not he’s not happy at all. First thing I look at is inside the box, checking where everyone is aligned and how many backers are in the box. If we have a run play called and they have eight guys in the box and we only have five blocking we gotta get out of that.

“If it’s a pass play I’m looking at safety alignment, how the corners are, and trying to figure out what they are in. Are they in a man or a zone? The plan is to get into a better play if needed.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“My goal is to go undefeated and win the conference championship and wherever that takes us. I’m not even sure how the post season works in JUCO. First and foremost I want to win every game in the regular season because that is what you always want to do. I don’t want to lose a game.”

What about personal goals? Do you have any stat lines you want to hit?

“I want to lead the conference in passing yards and touchdowns, efficiency, and completions. I’d like to have a better touchdown to interception ratio. I’d like to have better stats than last year.”

What are you working on in the offseason to prepare for your sophomore year?

“I’m continuing to work on my quickness and speed to help make me a better pocket passer. I want to be able to use my speed out there to make plays outside of the pocket. Pickup first downs (and) move the sticks. On top of that I am throwing everyday and I’m in the weight room getting bigger.”

You get any bigger we’re going to have to put you at defensive end!

(Laughs) “Yeah, right. Getting stronger I should say.”

Are you doing anything with your mechanics over the offseason? Tweaking anything there?

“No, just refining my footwork.”

Let’s talk a little bit about recruiting. Which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“I have North Texas, Central Arkansas, Southeast Louisiana, Florida A&M, Prairie View A&M, and those are pretty much the bigger ones and some D-IIs.”

I know you have a few offers, which schools have offered you so far?

“Southeast Louisiana, Florida A&M, and Prairie View A&M have all offered.”

Do you plan to take any unofficial visits over the summer?

“A lot of coaches have said “hey, we’ll be over here if you want to come.” I’d like to take one to Southeast Louisiana, official or unofficial. Right now it’s tough because I’m going out of town for a few days. I was trying to get there before but now I’ll try to see about going after I get back.

“North Texas is 20 minutes away from me. I can drop by there whenever I want. I’m good friends with their No. 1 receiver (Carlos Harris). We go out and throw every now and again.”

Being from the area, knowing they recruited you a little bit out of high school and are now showing interest in you, where are things with the Mean Green?

“I like North Texas a lot. I have a good relationship with the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach (Mike Canales) there. They are the same guys that were there when I was in high school. I’ve known them for a while. They’re great guys and great coaches. If that worked out that’d be awesome.”

What kind of offense does the Mean Green run? I know with Cisco you run everything out of the shotgun in the spread.

“They’re not I-formation but they’re not in the shotgun 100 percent of the time. They mix it up. At Cisco, I run the spread throwing it around all game. In high school I could not have been further from that. I was under center play action, hand the ball of 50 times a game. I’m pretty comfortable with both. I’m really comfortable under center. I think I’d be a nice fit for a team that does a little bit of both because I can do a little bit of both.”

With your background you have a unique perspective when breaking down the pros and cons of committing to a school. When your time comes as part of the 2016 class what will influence your decision on where you finish your college career on the gridiron?

“Their need for a quarterback will definitely be at the top of my list. I’m not going somewhere that has a returning starter. Their need for a quarterback. I’d like to go to a winning program that is a top notch school. Winning – I’d like to stay close to home if possible. I don’t have to stay in-state but somewhere close. And also my family, what they think will have a lot of weight on what I decide.”

What do you want to major in when you enroll at a four-year college?

“Right now, I want to do something in business. Not sure exactly what. I want to coach if things don’t workout with football and have my business degree to fall back on.”

Who has had the biggest impact on your football career so far?

“My dad (Kyle), hands down, just because he has a lot of knowledge. He played in high school and got a state championship. He played at SMU in college. He knows all about this stuff but all of that doesn’t matter. When it comes down to it he is my dad and has my best interest. He’s always looking out for me.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“Winning, winning and the relationship you build with your teammates and coaches. There is nothing else like it.”

 

Richard has a lot of football left to play and a lot of programs left to impress. He is a fearless gunslinger ready to air it out on any play and as last year’s numbers show with great success.

The 2015 season will be interesting in several ways in regards to Lagow. Seeing Lagow’s physical and mental maturity after a year of playing against quality JUCO competition, a year in a system where he feels more comfortable, a year working by and large with the same teammates, and more importantly a year of stability underneath him should prove to make this Texas native a top prospect out of the JUCO ranks when recruits start putting the ink to their letters of intent come February 2016.

Another point to be made about Lagow is his mental toughness. Through some very tough times, for any young man, he never gave up on himself or the game. But a tell-tell sign of just how well he can handle all the mental stress of the game, he has a 3.8 GPA and has been on the Dean’s list every semester he has been in school including his year at Oklahoma State.

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: Cisco C.C.; Richard Lagow.