Blackport hoping strong start pays off

West Michigan produced a quarterback two years ago by the name of Kirk Cousins who received rave reviews on the spring combine circuit by top quarterback coaches, but could not attract college scholarships until the very end of the process. Now, Cousins is backing up senior Brian Hoyer at Michigan State and prepping to battle transfer Keith Nichol for the starting job in 2009.

Hudsonville, Mich., quarterback Casey Blackport lives approximately 10 miles from where Cousins played his high school ball. Like the current Spartan quarterback, Blackport also had top quarterback coaches raving about his abilities this past spring, but he too has had trouble generating college scholarships.

The 6-3, 185-pound Blackport is known for having great mechanics and a fairly strong arm despite his slight build. Those evaluations are nearly identical to what was said about Cousins coming out of Holland Christian High School in the class of 2007. When it comes to garnering college scholarships, though, spring sessions do not mean as much as fall performances and that is where Blackport's focus is now.

"I'm just working to get (college's) interest, hoping to perform to their expectations and maybe getting an offer," Blackport said.

At this point Eastern Michigan is the schools that looks closest to extending Blackport an offer. The West Michigan native has been in touch with Eagles' quarterbacks coach Scott Ishpording.

"They're looking at me (hard)," Blackport said. "I was at their camp in the summer and then I stopped by again to visit one of the practices and talked to them then.

"They said that they were looking for a quarterback in this class, but they couldn't offer based on my stats last year and they want to wait until my first two games this year. I have to get my game film into them and I think that's going to go pretty well because I've gotten to throw the ball more than what we did last year in the first two games."

Big Ten programs like Michigan State and Iowa are also still showing interest and Connecticut and Virginia continue to send mail. Blackport is working to show Michigan State coaches what he can do and hopefully evoke comparisons to Cousins.

"I just got invited to Michigan State's game this week against Florida Atlantic. I already emailed them and told them I am going," Blackport said. "I know they have another quarterback, Andrew Maxwell, who's good, but I am just going to see how things are, keep my eyes open and definitely going to keep them as an option if they are looking for two quarterbacks which I'm not sure if they are."

Blackport has gotten off to a strong start in 2008. His offense is averaging 44 points per game and he has completed 16 of 22 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns in two games despite hardly playing more than one half in either contest. In his most recent game, Blackport had to be helped off the field after suffering what looked to be a serious injury.

"It was a running play and I handed it off to the back. He got hit going through the line and someone punched the ball out right into my hands," Blackport recalled. "I tried to run it, but they were around me and more people kept piling on. It was a hyperextension in the left knee, but it was nothing big. I am playing this week."