CHARLESTON, W.Va. - It might take some time for the University of Charleston's West Virginia Conference football opponents to adjust to the Golden Eagles' new quarterback.
At 5 feet 9, 175 pounds, DaRante Hunter spent three seasons running around conference defenses and winning 24 games before being booted off the team for a violation of team policy.
He twice was a first-team all-conference quarterback.
Enter the new starter - 21-year-old sophomore Blaine Wilson - who won't run over defenders on every running play, but won't shy away from contact.
"I try to avoid some hits, but usually I'll try to run over people," said the 6-2, 225-pounder, who was redshirted as a freshman and grayshirted his second year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. "I'm not sliding. If I slid, Coach (Tony) DeMeo would probably go crazy. He didn't recruit sliders.
"Sometimes I'll find somebody to run over, unless they're a 280-pound linebacker, I'll try to juke that guy."
There is no indication Wilson is taking the easy way out of anything, majoring in biology with an eye on medical school.
"I take some pretty tough classes, but it's not overwhelming," Wilson said.
The same is true on the field, where UC's offense commands a sharp eye, keen awareness and athletic ability.
His intelligence more than makes up for speed, which won't raise eyebrows like Hunter's, but compares favorably to that of former UC quarterback Corey Isner.
Unlike Hunter, Isner did most of his work through the air, completing 147-of-251 passes for 1,429 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006, his final season. Last year, Hunter threw for 1,846 yards, but completed only 97 passes in 153 attempts.
Wilson's work through the air last season was limited to two attempts, but he ran for 113 yards on 29 carries.
"This offense is quarterback-friendly," Wilson said. "It fits my style.
"I'm not saying I'm replacing DaRante, but I'm here to run the offense to the best of my ability."
It came on quickly for Wilson, who expected to sit behind the superstar QB for another season before taking the reins of the offense.
"He got the job done in the spring and it just carried over into the fall," DeMeo said.
When Hunter was let go, Wilson was thrust into the spotlight, giving UC a slew of talented quarterbacks - redshirt freshmen Dorian Curry and Malon Johnson and true freshmen Maurice Leak and Ulysses "Boobie" Tobler.
"It was shock," said Wilson of his reaction to Hunter's release.
"I was not expecting that at all. After that, I had a whole new outlook on my college career."
He inherits an offense with plenty of talent, including 6-5, 205-pound wide receiver Andre Higgins, a senior who caught 35 passes for 706 yards and nine touchdowns last year.
One of Wilson's favorite plays is throwing the ball up in the end zone and letting Higgins go get it.
All-purpose offensive weapon Julian Johnson is the team's leading returning rusher with 489 yards on 58 carries. He also caught nine passes for 115 yards.
The Golden Eagles will surely miss last year's top running back, Aaron Higdon, who signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions.
Still, Wilson and DeMeo like the incentive provided from last season when UC finished 9-2 last year and was left out of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
"There is motivation," Wilson said. "The last three years we've been pretty much in the race, but late in the season we've come up short."
DeMeo said there's nothing like a team playing with a chip on its shoulder.
And, a fearless quarterback in its backfield.
Contact Charleston Dailymail Assistant Sports Editor Rich Stevens at 304-348-4837