BY NEIL MILBERT
Chicago Tribune
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - (KRT) - When DaJuan Warren came to Illinois in the summer of 2003 he envisioned himself competing someday with Tim Brasic for the starting quarterback job. Instead, when the California coaches study films of the Illini's first two games in preparation for Saturday's contest, they will see the quarterback who threw for 4,400 yards as a three-year starter at Michigan's Southfield High School catching Brasic's passes. Former coach Ron Turner converted Warren to receiver when he redshirted his freshman year. "The coaches thought I might be a good receiver because I'm a pretty good athlete," he recalled. "I tried it one day in practice." He didn't like it and went back to quarterback. But midway through the season he was informed that henceforth he would be a receiver.
"At first, I was kind of bitter," Warren said. "But I like to play football and I was willing to play wherever the coaches needed me to play." Unlike Turner's pro-style offense that is designed for a dropback passer, new coach Ron Zook's shotgun offense is designed for a mobile quarterback with Warren's passing and running ability. When Zook took a look at Warren during spring practice, however, the coach quickly came to the conclusion the 6-foot-2-inch sophomore was one of his most resourceful wide receivers. The only move Zook made was making him a starter. It also was during spring practice that Brasic gained the inside track on the starting quarterback job after playing only bit parts in two games and throwing only one pass in his first two seasons. Not only has Warren become one of Brasic's best collaborators he also is one of the quarterback's biggest boosters. "I've been comfortable with Tim since Day 1," he said. "He can throw and he can run the option. He doesn't target one person; he spreads the ball around. If no one is open he can use his running ability to scramble and make a play." The respect is reciprocal.
"DaJuan has great athleticism and great speed and he's not afraid to go up for the ball no matter where it is," Brasic said. "That gives you confidence as a quarterback. Some receivers just have a knack for getting open. Every time I'm dropping back, no matter who I'm looking for, it seems like DeJuan pops into my vision." Last year, as a redshirt freshman reserve, Warren played in eight games and had eight receptions for 52 yards. Four of the catches and 36 of the yards came in the season-ending loss at Northwestern. Picking up where he left off, Warren has made six catches for 61 yards in the season-opening victories against Rutgers and San Jose State. Like Brasic, Warren loves Zook's offense.
"Coach has a wide range of plays and we have so many different sets and options," Warren said. "It's a big difference going from two or three wide receivers (in the pro-style offense) to four or five wide receivers (in the shotgun)."
In the Rutgers game, one of the options concocted by offensive coordinator Mike Locksley had Warren taking a handoff from Brasic on a reverse and then throwing a pass intended for tight end Melvin Bryant in the end zone. Initially, it appeared that Rutgers cornerback Corey Barnes had made the interception but it was wiped out by pass interference. "When we did that play against the scout team I got the look I wanted and got the completion," Warren said. "In the game I made a bad read." Although it's highly unlikely Warren ever will become the Illini's starting quarterback, he conceivably could throw some game-winning passes.
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