During the first quarter of WTAMU’s 72-0 homecoming victory over the Marauders of Central State on Oct. 5, senior quarterback Dustin Vaughn became No. 1 in school history in passing yards, eclipsing the previous record of 9,799 yards set by Taylor Harris [2007-10].
After going 32 of 40 for 401 yards and a career-high seven touchdown passes in the game, Vaughn also became the first quarterback in school history to throw for 10,000 career yards and lies within three touchdown passes of Keith Null’s [2005-08] school record of 92.
Earlier in the week, Vaughn said the record would be the last thing on his mind going into the game, and while he didn’t care when he broke it or how it happened, he did feel it was an honor.
“It’s something that I’m proud of,” Vaughn said, “and it’s something I’m proud to be a member of as far as the quarterbacks that have come through here – with Keith Null and Dalton Bell and Taylor Harris – those guys that hold those records, it’s definitely an honor to be placed in the same grouping as they are.”
Unlike Harris, however – who had a glimmering career in high school as well, throwing for 5,134 yards and 49 touchdowns in four years at Whitesboro High School in Whitesboro, Texas – Vaughn came from an offense in high school that was based off the running game.
The 6-5, 220-pounder from Corpus Christi, Texas, said he threw the ball just around ten times a game while playing for Calallen High School, and he knew when he chose to play for WT he would have to prepare himself for a fast-paced offense that was based around the passing game.
“Something I needed to get better at was being able to watch film and to figure out tendencies in a defense and understanding the game of football a whole lot better than I was [at the time],” Vaughn said. “So it took a lot of preparation, took a lot of time in the film room, took a lot of asking question to coaches and just trying to figure it out. That’s a whole lot of what has made me the player that I am today.”
All college football coaches see players come through their programs that never live up to their potential and ability, and they also see many players come through that make the absolute most out of what they have.
Vaughn said he understood it was possible to get away with talent alone in high school, but he knew everyone was talented at the collegiate level and he needed to find a way to separate himself from everyone else. He found a way to do just that in his preparation.
Mike Nesbitt, interim head coach, said Vaughn’s attention to detail has been second to none since he arrived at WT, and he saw the “light come on” for Vaughn during his sophomore and junior seasons.
“The big thing is you just see the growth of the player,” Nesbitt said. “To be that type of player, you’re not going to flinch, that’s the thing that’s tough at that quarterback position. There’s always a defining moment in a guy’s career at quarterback – being able to step up or fold at that moment – and he has always stepped up.”
Nathan Slaughter, senior wide receiver, entered the Buffs’ football program one year after Vaughn. Slaughter echoed Nesbitt’s sentiment regarding Vaughn’s preparation.
“As a freshman, he wasn’t playing but he still worked hard in practice,” Slaughter said. “He took everyone rep serious and I still see that same fire in his senior year. He’s grown a lot, he’s a lot more confident and he’s lot more of a vocal leader for the team.
“He’s a great quarterback; he handles all the responsibilities of a quarterback and he handles them well. He’s going to find a way to get you the ball and give you opportunities. He’s very smart, and you can’t [help but] love playing with a quarterback that’s going to be the number one quarterback in school history. You have to love that.”
