Unexpected call led Hakes to enroll at UD

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The former Texas high school star had spent a red-shirt season atDivision I-A Akron in 2006, then left when he felt the playbookinstituted by a new offensive coordinator didn't best fit hisskills.
Hakes, 20, played last fall at Orange Coast College, a two-yearschool in Costa Mesa, Calif. Delaware had shown interest lastwinter as it sought a quarterback transfer. But UD didn't have anavailable scholarship, Hakes said, and the Blue Hens needed someoneimmediately, before spring football, a requirement he couldn'tmeet.
Having not received his associates degree yet, a requirement forthose transferring from junior college to a four-year school, Hakesinstead transferred to another JUCO -- Mount San Antonio College inWalnut, Calif. He'd play there in 2008, he figured, and use that asa springboard back to NCAA Division I.
"I was really just focusing on that," Hakes said Sunday by phonefrom Walnut. "Then I was in Akron visiting my girlfriend, andDelaware's coaches called again. They said they ran across somefilm and they had a scholarship available. It was just out of theblue, all of a sudden."
That was June 14. Last Thursday and Friday, Hakes visited DivisionI-AA Delaware. He huddled and dined with coaches and hung out withplayers, including fellow quarterback Rob Schoenhoft, tight end RobAgnone and wide receiver Mark Duncan. He met with academicadvisors. By the time he left, he'd been offered and accepted ascholarship.
What had been a two-player competition between Schoenhoft, a juniorwho transferred in February from Ohio State, and red-shirt freshmanLou Ritacco now has a third participant.
"They kind of said they only have two quarterbacks on scholarshipand they need another person," Hakes said. "They like what they seeof me and see me coming in and competing, making it a three-manrace. I'll do the best I can."
Delaware coaches sought the comfort of better depth and additionalpotential in adding the 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-hander to the mix.The Blue Hens begin preseason practice Aug. 4 for their Aug. 30opener at Maryland.
"We knew we needed a third quarterback here ... He is a good kidand we look forward to working with him," Schoenhoft said.
Schoenhoft and Ritacco have the advantage of having spent thespring learning and executing plays in Delaware's no-huddle, spreadoffense, which is difficult to master. They'll also join theirteammates for informal workouts in early July, including important7-on-7 passing drills.
Hakes, however, has classes at Mount SAC through July and willarrive at UD just in time for the start of camp.
Delaware must replace two-year starter Joe Flacco, who was theBaltimore Ravens' first-round pick in the NFL draft.
If his visit is a valid indication, Hakes expects a smoothtransition.
"My visit was a lot of fun," he said. "The players were all reallygood guys. I could tell from the atmosphere it's a winning program.I could tell just by the way everybody carried themselves.
"That's what I was looking for. I want to be on a team that'sreally motivated. And it seems like a good offense to get in andlearn."
Hakes, who guided Nolan Catholic High to a 22-4 record and Texasstate titles in 2004 and 2005, chose Akron over Bowling Green,Colorado State and Mississippi because he felt the Zips' pro-stylepassing offense suited him.
But when offensive coordinator Jim Pry left after Hakes' firstseason for Illinois, Akron switched to a West Virginia-style spreadoption. Hakes wasn't comfortable with the new system and left.
At Orange Coast, Hakes completed 47 of 109 passes (43.1 percent)for 606 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He alsohad 65 carries (third on the team) for 45 yards and one TD, often,he said, running out of necessity rather than desire. His team went5-5.
"He controls the huddle well and knows the game," Orange Coastcoach Mike Taylor said of Hakes. "He's a team guy. I think he'll bea good player at Delaware."
Contact Kevin Tresolini at 324-2804 or ktresolini@delawareonline.com .