Official visits lining up for Tennessee three-star QB Cody Pagach
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Early in the season Cody Pagach is doing what talented quarterbacks do, make plays and walk off the field victorious. An offseason transfer from Independence High School (Thompson Station) to Alcoa High School (Tenn.) has seemingly gone off without a hitch seeing the Tornadoes race out to a 3-0 start playing one of the school’s toughest schedules in recent history. The play of their senior quarterback is drawing headlines and recruiting attention.
The Tornadoes play on the field was updated by Pagach, “Our season has been going really well. We are off to a good start, we are 3-0. We should be 4-0 but the Greenville game was cancelled for weather; it was a no contest. I wish we could make it up.
“I am happy with the season. We had a dominating win against Ravenwood (35-14) and we beat a good Bearden team (17-13). They were big and physical. They challenged us but we pulled through. The Tottenville (NY) game (44-6), they only had one week of practice before playing us. We knew it wouldn’t be a breeze, but it made for an easier game to set us up for the Greenville game.”
The game that has everyone talking is the win over Bearden. Pagach engineered a 99-yard game-winning drive throwing a touchdown with 1:38 left for the win.
The differences in Pagach’s talents from his junior to senior year are showing up in clutch moments.
“I see improvements in my play making ability out of the pocket and with how I am extending plays,” Pagach stated. “That took a jump from last year, that is through offseason work with my QB coaches. It has shown in these last couple of games.
“I feel like Alcoa is such a balanced team, I don’t have to do much for us to succeed, I just have to do my job. I don’t have to be the hero. We have a bunch of guys that do that. If we do our job, we will have success.”
The offer sheet for Pagach includes Pitt, Toledo, Western Kentucky, Miami-Ohio, UNLV, UT-Martin, Wofford, and Washington State with Ole Miss, North Carolina, and Northwestern evaluating his senior film.
The Hilltoppers got Pagach to Bowling Green twice over the offseason.
“The visits went really well,” Pagach shared. “I got to spend the whole day with their offensive coordinator, coach (Drew) Hollingshead. It was more of a bring the family up, show the facilities, and eat visit.
“I threw with some recruits, I threw in front of coach Hollingshead and their head coach, coach (Tyson) Helton. It was really the first time they have seen me throw since after my sophomore year. I feel like it was a really good experience. I am glad they could get eyes on me.”
Saturdays on college campuses are being planned.
“I plan to take one to UT-Martin and WKU, and maybe one to Ole Miss,” Pagach stated.
The bond with the Skyhawks staff was covered.
“I feel like their coaches and I have a really good relationship,” Pagach said. “Coach (Travis) Partridge (QB) and I have been building it over the phone. I haven’t met the staff in person, hopefully I will get to do that with a game-day coming up.”
Unofficial stops may turn into paid for trips for Pagach and his family.
“Hopefully I will go up to WKU for an official, UT-Martin, and Washington State for an official,” Pagach shared.
The Cougars’ new offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, has received national attention after Washington State’s 2-0 start with impressive wins over Colorado State (50-24) on the road and at home against then-No. 19 Wisconsin (31-22). The rapport with coach Arbuckle extends back to his Hilltopper days.
“Coach Arbuckle and I have been communicating for a long time, since he was at WKU,” Pagach stated. “He offered me then. I have been in communication with him since he got to Washington State. He offered me at Washington State and flew down to Tennessee to watch me throw over the spring.
“I have always had a great relationship with him; I love him. I think it is amazing what he’s doing there. It is proof that he is one of the top offensive coordinators in the nation. He will be successful in the future.”
The Tornadoes get back on the field this Friday with a road game against Austin-East (0-4).
*Click the link for the April 14 RNG interview with Cody Pagach.