Freeman has shown ability to shoulder load
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By CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Before Blaine Gabbert became public enemy No. 1 on Nebraska football-related message boards, there was Josh Freeman.
Never has a player caused as much outrage as the quarterback from suburban Kansas City, Mo.
While Nebraska fans would love it if at the end of his Missouri career Gabbert regrets having chosen MU instead of NU, most can understand his plight. Gabbert reneged on an oral commitment to Nebraska last year because of concerns about the uncertain future of coach Bill Callahan.
But in Freeman’s case, it was more like: How dare he shun the Huskers for Kansas State.
Callahan offered the promise of a West Coast offense that would suit the 6-foot-6 Freeman’s strong arm, and with him, it was only a matter of time before Big Red would return to the glory days.
Husker fans were gaga for Freeman until new K-State coach Ron Prince swooped in and plucked him away less than a month before he was set to enroll at NU.
Prince, it turns out, was dead-on about Freeman. In less than three seasons, he’s become KSU’s career leader in pass attempts (1,103), completions (656), yards (7,685), TD passes (39) and total offense (7,993).
He’s also showing up prominently on most NFL scouts’ radar.
All of this is bittersweet to Freeman.
Yes, in the sixth game of 2006, he became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for K-State since 1976, then led the Wildcats to their first bowl in three years.
As a sophomore, he increased his completion percentage from 51.9 percent to 63.3 while tossing 18 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. That was a night-and-day difference from his first year, when he was picked off 15 times and had only six TD passes.
But guiding Kansas State past Texas for the second straight year, Freeman was disappointed as the Wildcats lost five of their last six games to fall a victory shy of becoming bowl-eligible.
Now, with K-State in a four-game skid and needing to beat Nebraska today and Iowa State next week in order to return to a bowl, Freeman is once again having to settle for personal accomplishments.
No doubt, if he bolts for the NFL early on the heels of his coach being fired, Freeman, 13-17 as a starter, would be unfulfilled.
“I was committed to Nebraska, and Coach Prince came along and persuaded me to come here,” Freeman told reporters in Manhattan, Kan., on Monday. “Whoever ends up getting the job, I’m going to give him a fair shot to see what his offense is all about, to see if it will be worth sticking around and learning.”
A win today would certainly give Freeman more food for thought. Part of the reason Prince is a lame-duck coach right now is because he’s gone 0-8 against Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Two years ago, Nebraska beat K-State 21-3 in Manhattan. Freeman passed for 272 yards, but he also threw a pair of interceptions and was sacked four times.
Last year in Lincoln, he threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for another. But Freeman, sacked six times, couldn’t keep pace with Joe Ganz and walked away on the short end of a humiliating 73-31 loss.
As much as he remembers the Nebraska offense for being in a rare zone that game, Husker defensive tackle Zach Potter remained impressed with Freeman.
“Josh is a great quarterback. You all saw that when he was committed here so long ago,” Potter said. “He’s a definite threat. He’s 6-6, 250 — a great frame for a quarterback — and he’s going to present a lot of challenges, so we need to make sure we get some pressure on him and cause some havoc.”
Freeman’s completion percentage (59.8 percent) isn’t quite as high as it was last season. But he’s continued to improve his TDs-to-interceptions ratio (15 to 8). In a 58-35 loss to Oklahoma three weeks ago, Freeman threw for 478 yards.
He’s also added an element to his game. Entering the season with negative rushing yardage in his career, Freeman is now KSU’s leader with 369 yards.
Such talent could make a guy who’s No. 1 on the field and with Kansas State fans think he’s done all he can as a Wildcat.
“He came into a situation where, really, he was our best player right away and had to be the guy who had to shoulder most of the ability to win. And he showed tremendous grace in doing that,” Prince said asked to list some qualities that make Freeman unique.
“No. 2, I think that his footwork and his progression reading in routes has really come a long way. He’s done a nice job with that. He’s never become flustered we haven’t always been able to give him the kind of protection that he deserves. He’s very encouraging to our linemen and other people who are involved in protection.
“And then third, I would say his ability to run the football. He’s really taken a lot of pride in that. It’s something that we’ve leaned on him heavily this year to do, and he’s got an opportunity to do something that’s very uncommon. He’s a really special young man and I’m glad we had the opportunity to be with him.”
So long as he doesn’t pull one out against the Huskers today, Nebraska fans will probably be quick to echo that sentiment. But if this is the last NU sees of Freeman, it’s certain Bo Pelini will be among those happy to say goodbye.
“When he’s hot, he’s pretty good,” the Nebraska coach said. “And he’s hot most of the time.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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