Lindsey making headway to Division I

It wasn't a spectacular play. Just a simple slant pattern, right over the middle, good for 15 yards. But for Devonte Lindsey , Suitland's 6-foot-2, 210-pound quarterback, that pass held special significance. It was his first throw as a varsity quarterback, and he executed in flawlessly. Sometimes, one simple pass is all it takes to boost a quarterback's confidence.

"Some guys get real nervous in their first game and throw the ball into the ground," said Suitland coach Ed Shields. "But Devonte dropped back, hit the guy right on target and led us right down the field. … He looked comfortable back there."

Nine games later, the junior gunslinger, who compares himself to Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, had control of Suitland's offense and began establishing himself as a legitimate college prospect. With his tall, muscular frame, his sub-4.6 speed and, most importantly, his rifle right arm -- he can throw the ball 80 yards on the fly -- Lindsey helped lead the Rams to the playoffs. He had 17 touchdowns (14 passing, three rushing) and almost 1,000 yards passing in Suitland's run-first scheme in 2008.

"You don't find quarterbacks that big, with that strong of an arm and who can run very often," Shields said. "When you put all those things together, that's what makes him special."

Suitland allowed Lindsey to develop slowly last year. They relied on a stacked backfield to pick up yards, and they rarely asked Lindsey to win a game for them. But as Lindsey progressed mentally and physically, the coaches began calling his number more and more. By the end of the season, Lindsey was throwing the ball 20 times a game and making key plays.

In the playoff game against Flowers, Suitland fell behind by two touchdowns and needed to respond. At the end of the first half, Lindsey led the Rams downfield before facing a crucial fourth-down-and-short situation inside Flowers' red zone. Instead of kicking the field goal or giving the ball to one of their 'backs, Suitland elected to throw.

In a play reminiscent of his very first varsity pass, Lindsey took a three-step drop, found receiver Anthony Bush on a slant over the middle and hit him in stride for a 15-yard touchdown pass. That gave Suitland momentum going into the locker room (it was short lived; they ended up losing, 29-6).

If nothing else, the Flowers game showed Lindsey could be more than just a robot who reiterated the coaches' plays. He could be a leader and a playmaker in 2009.

"Last year was my first year, but this year I'm already used to everything," Lindsey said. "So I'm expecting a big year. The coaches have given me the green light [to throw]."

Lindsey is not a loud, pervasive quarterback. But his quiet, unassuming demeanor can be deceiving. Shields, for one, said Lindsey is leader where it counts -- on the field.

"You're not going to hear him saying much, but he will take control in the huddle," Shields said. "He can lead this offense; I don't think that's a question."

Lindsey has already improved the one area he struggled with last year: his accuracy. At a recent 7-on-7 camp at Maryland, Lindsey completed 80-percent of his throws, according to team stats. On top of that, he's working on his speed and throwing the ball on the run, two essential components in Suitland's spread offense.

"Since last year I've gotten bigger, faster and my technique has improved," said Lindsey, who is predicting a 25-touchdown season. "My arm is a lot better than last year, too."

For all Lindsey's raw talent, he still hasn't received any scholarship offers this summer. He's receiving interest from Syracuse, Rutgers, Maryland and North Carolina, but none of the schools are clamoring over him. One of the reasons is Lindsey's lack of exposure. Evidently "personal problems" have kept him from attending crucial one-day camps this summer.

"There is some interest there, but he hasn't been able to showcase himself the way he would have liked," Shields said. "He got a late start, and he's trying to catch up … sometimes when that happens you have guys that are diamonds in the rough."

Lindsey said he's going to three camps later this summer, beginning with Towson on July 27. Then he'll visit two of his primary suitors for one-on-one workouts: Syracuse and Rutgers. His scholarship offer is hinging on strong performances at those camps and next fall.

"The [college recruiters] said the first three games this fall are going to be pretty important," Lindsey said. "I just got to get out there and perform. I absolutely feel that I am a Division I player."