SPORTS

Lacey alone with Tuskegee QB role

A. Stacy Long
Montgomery Advertiser

Kevin Lacey senses that he’s a little more at ease and Michael Robinson feels it, too.

Lacey, part of a two-man quarterback rotation at quarterback last year for Tuskegee, doesn’t have such worries this season.

He’s the unquestioned quarterback. For better or worse.

“We know he has to be ready for the first game this year,” said Robinson, a star senior defensive back. “We all know he has a big role to play.

“I think he’ll be able to step up and take on the challenge.”

Lacey and Justin Nared juggled quarterback duties last year, helping Tuskegee win its 29th Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.

And they did it without incident or drama.

This year, it’s squarely on Lacey.

“I feel that I still have to prepare myself,” the junior said. “I don’t want to be complacent. I have high goals and that’s something I know I have to work hard for.”

Still, Lacey said he feels more comfortable barking orders this summer during 7-on-7 workouts. Robinson says he can see an added aura of confidence surrounding Lacey.

The receivers are quick to listen. There is more respect.

“I think he’s getting better,” said Tuskegee coach Willie Slater, who is never one to overly heap praise. “He did some things in the spring that I liked, and I think he understands more of what’s going on.”

Though Lacey started nine of Tuskegee’s 12 games, he and Nared had similar passing statistics.

Lacey, in three more attempts, completed four more passes for 100 more yards. Nared had one more touchdown and three fewer interceptions.

Lacey was a bigger running threat. He had 220 yards rushing, 213 more than Nared, who readily helped his competition. Nared earned the team’s “ultimate team player” award for how he accepted sharing.

“I learned a lot from Jason Nared in the two years he was with me, and I’m glad I had him ahead of me,” Lacey said. “Having him as a mentor was a great thing.”

Lacey, a Wetumpka graduate, played just one year of quarterback in high school, so he was still a relative novice when he arrived at Tuskegee.

Slater says he correctly predicted Lacey’s career trek — some time to adjust before emerging. Now, “there’s no safety net behind him,” Slater said. It’s time to excel.

“The game slowed down a lot for me last year,” Lacey said. “I have a lot more experience now, but I still have to work hard.”

The players report great success in 7-on-7 drills this summer. (Lacey says “we’ve won more than we’ve lost” when facing Alabama State, an arch rival the Tigers once again won’t play this season.)

“We don’t play them in a real game,” Lacey said, “but 7-on-7 is still just as competitive.”

Lacey said he and Tuskegee’s receivers have long developed a bond — “We’re all brothers,” he says — and any respect goes both ways.

Both criticism and praise flow. If he makes a poor decision, he expects to be called on it, too.

“He’s shown a lot of improvement, especially on the deep ball,” Robinson said. “And he’s showing great leadership skills.”

Robinson, begrudgingly, gives Lacey credit for not giving Robinson any summer interceptions, too. Lacey simply doesn’t throw it in Robinson’s direction.

“I’ve thrown it away from him a couple of times,” Lacey said. “If I don’t have to go his way, I won’t.”