Since 2011, there had been a professor heading the West Texas A&M football team. You may know him, as he shattered Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II records, led the Buffaloes to deep playoff runs, was a Harlon Hill Award runner-up and is currently signed with the Dallas Cowboys. His name was Dustin Vaughan.
While acquiring all of these collegiate accomplishments, the graduation of Vaughan left big shoes to fill for the next West Texas A&M quarterback. Stepping into those shoes and coming forth from the shadows is a six foot seven, 220 pound junior political science major from Llano, Texas.
Taking the reins is Preston Rabb.
Despite the imposing stature, Rabb gives off a soft spoken, laid back attitude and a friendly demeanor off of the football field.
“I’m pretty simple, nothing too much,” Rabb said, describing himself. “I like to hang out with friends, nothing too crazy at all.”
On the gridiron, however, Rabb is taking major steps to being an offensive leader under Head Coach Mike Nesbitt and Offensive Coordinator Stephen Lee. Thus far into the 2014 campaign, Rabb has amassed more than 1100 yards and five touchdown throws.
“Coach Nesbitt and Coach Lee have really helped me step by step,” Rabb said. “They told me that if I need anything, just go to them. They’ve made it real easy for me.”
Most notably, Rabb aided the Buffaloes in their big 58-41 win over Angelo State, where he passed for 498 yards and three touchdown passes.
“It’s good to see him grow,” Head Coach Mike Nesbitt said of Rabb’s progress. “It’s one of those things that it’s going to take time for him to get better. We’re just going to have to live with it and keep rallying with him, keep teaching him, coaching him and raising him.”
Helping Rabb’s rapid strides is a renewed one-two rushing combo, led by senior running back and Northwestern transfer Venric Mark and junior running back Geremy Alridge-Mitchell. Together, Mark and Alridge-Mitchell have compiled more than 450 rushing yards, with Alridge-Mitchell acquiring more than 110 yards at the Lone Star Football Festival as well as another 113 yards against Angelo State.
“It helps being able to run and it really helps the passing game,” Rabb said. “So when we need to throw, teams are thinking ‘we have to stack the box and stop the run’ and makes it that much easier to pass to [Anthony Johnson] and Jeremy Watson.”
Speaking of Johnson, the senior wide receiver has been a reliable target for Rabb, catching 29 passes for more than 360 yards so far in the season.
“I heard him say a couple times in the [Angelo State] game that this is most comfortable he’s ever felt,” senior wide receiver Jeremy Watson said. “He’s really matured in the last couple games.”
With Rabb finding wide open Watson throughout the Angelo State game, Watson hauled in 12 catches for nearly 270 yards and a touchdown. This has earned Watson the honor of being this week’s Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Of course, the offensive line cannot go without credit for the rushing attack and providing Rabb the time to make vital completions, which is anchored by sophomore offensive lineman Austin Carson and senior offensive lineman Arthur Fatu.
There is also a young, hungry defensive unit – led by the likes of redshirt freshman linebacker Carter James, sophomore lineback Patric Youngman, junior defensive back Ethan Morriss and senior defensive back Torian Oakley, that are more than willing to get the football back in Rabb’s hands.
The final piece of growing Rabb into the role of quarterback was indeed the man that took West Texas A&M to new heights: Dustin Vaughan.
“Since I’ve been here these past three years, he’s been a friend,” Rabb said. “He’s shown me the ropes since day one. He taught me how to prepare for games and watch film.”
After sitting and watching for the past three years as a protégé, the 2014 season is now Rabb’s time to shine. All with the help of a hardnosed running game, a talented receiver corps, a youthful offensive line and defense, and an experienced coaching staff.
Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Rabb’s World.
