Brohm breaks down his favorites

Brian Brohm saw his senior season unfold in nightmare fashion as Louisville (Ky.) Trinity dropped its first four games and left football observers from the Bluegrass State and beyond scratching their collective heads.

The four-star quarterback had a lot more to smile about this past week, however, as the Shamrocks defeated arch-rival Louisville St. Xavier 17-7 to end their shocking skid and possibly turn around the season.

“It felt great to get a win – any win,” said Brohm, who completed 20 of 36 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns against St. X. “Hopefully, that will be the thing that gets our season rolling in the right direction. We’re still confident we can make the playoffs and get back to the championship. Our spirits are pretty high right now.”

Brohm (6-3, 200, 4.65) is the nation’s fifth-rated pro-style quarterback coming off a junior season which saw him pass for 3,777 yards, 47 touchdowns and only one interception. Through five games this season, he’s completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns. With only one other returning starter on offense, however, he’s been sacked as many times as he was in 15 games last season (11) and tossed four interceptions.

“It’s been a tough at times. We’re trying to work in a lot of new players, but I think we’re getting better with every game,” he said.

Brohm has been recruited by schools from across the nation, but has been singling out five schools since the summer.

“It’s still pretty much Louisville, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Kentucky and Illinois,” he said. “Not much has changed with those. I don’t have one favorite team right now.”

Brohm said he’s yet to schedule any official visits, but has at least on trip in mind.

“I’ll probably go to Notre Dame for an official visit either for the Florida State or USC game,” he said. “And maybe eventually down to Tennessee. I’ve seen games at Louisville and Kentucky, and I’ve been up to Illinois before.”

Two weeks ago, he received a rare personal visit from Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer.

“Coach Fulmer came here during our off-week, which was their off-week too,” he said. “He talked to me a little bit during lunch. I enjoyed that. That’s a pretty big deal when the head coach comes to visit you. He said it was his first time out in 11 years. I think that sends a pretty strong message about how much they want me down there.”

Asked to highlight something about each of the main schools on his list, Brohm offered the following:

“I like Tennessee’s offense and they way Clausen operates it. It’s a pretty basic, solid scheme. They help the quarterback out a lot by running the ball and they always have a strong offensive line. They put a lot of talent around their quarterback. Plus, there’s a real good opportunity for whoever they sign this year to come in and win the starting job. Coach Fulmer told me he thought I’d be able to compete for it.

“I’ve been watching Louisville play. Their offense has been spectacular the first four games. They’re putting up big numbers with their quarterback.

“Illinois always has a good pro-style offense. They’ve always impressed me.

“I like coach Willingham and the opportunity at Notre Dame. They’re kind of like Tennessee. There’s a real good chance for the player they sign to come in and start.”

And what about Kentucky? Some suggest that the Wildcats aren’t in serious contention at this point with Shane Boyd ready to take over for Jared Lorenzen as a senior in 2004 and a highly-touted quarterback from the Class of 2003 (Andre Woodson) waiting in the wings.

“No, I’m very interested in them,” he said. “If you look at their situation, it’s pretty good too. Boyd’s going to be a senior. They tell me if I go there, I’d have the opportunity to compete right away, that they’ll play the best player. I like coach Hudson. When I’ve had a chance to go down there and talk to him, he really knows his stuff. There’s a lot of good things about them.”

Brohm said he does not have a timetable for a decision. Look for that to come well after the conclusion of the prep football season.