If the early bird gets the worm, then Cal Poly quarterback Andre Broadous might just get the most worms on the Central Coast.
The leader of Cal Poly’s no-huddle spread option offense is up at 5:30 a.m. during the week and arrives at practice just after 6 a.m. Two hours of practice later, Broadous and the rest of the football team have mandatory study hall, class, weightlifting, meetings and lastly, film study. By the time midnight comes, he can finally fall asleep just to repeat the cycle again the next day.
“I am an only child,” Broadous said. “Growing up by yourself, you don’t have any big brothers to look up to, so my parents always preached to me to be a leader and not follow the crowd.”
Broadous went to Grant High School in Portland, Ore., where he was an All-State quarterback his senior year. He was a tri-sport athlete and starting shooting guard for Grant’s state championship basketball team and was also a second team All-State center fielder. He credits his forceful attitude for his success in all three sports.
“I always loved playing sports because I was aggressive and loved competing against the guys I grew up with,” Broadous said. “It didn’t matter if it was football or baseball. I loved being challenged by the guys I competed against.”
Even with a hectic weekly schedule, Broadous said he does his best to avoid being overwhelmed by the demands that come with being the starting quarterback at a Football Championship Subdivision school.
One of his favorite pastimes is playing Madden 12. Broadous and senior slotback Mark Rodgers are as potent a combination on the sticks as they are on the field.
“I am really competitive,” Rodgers said. “But if Andre and I played against each other, he’d beat me. He always tries to be the best in everything.”
Broadous’ dual threat abilities made him the ideal fit for Cal Poly’s triple-option offense. This is what led him to becoming a Mustang instead of accepting offers from schools closer to home such as Portland State and Oregon State.
Broadous’ performance on the field proves the decision is paying off. He averaged more than 70 yards rushing in his first seven career starts and has been interception-free.
Broadous’ career at Cal Poly didn’t start as quickly as anticipated, though. After redshirting his first year in 2008, he was the backup his second year on campus. He was expected to be the starter the next season, but with football, the unexpected can happen, and Broadous was injured in the opening game against Southern Utah.
“I was tackled by a defensive lineman, and my shoulder was driven into the ground,” Broadous said. “It was disappointing because injuries are a part of football that you can’t control.”
His shoulder sprain prevented him from throwing for three weeks, and he was unable to play in the final four games of the season. He was also unable to play in the first two games because of a sprained ankle.
“It was definitely the toughest time I have ever had playing football,” Broadous said. “I have to give credit to my teammates for supporting me through my rehab and making the process easier on me.”
Broadous has worked hard this year to establish himself as a team leader. He spent more time in the film room this summer and held throwing sessions with his receivers in preparation for the spread offense. The effort did not go unnoticed.
“On the field, Andre has very steady demeanor, but off the field, he has a personality that guys really gravitate too,” offensive coordinator Bryan Cook said. “He spent a lot time in the film room and set a good example for the rest of the team.”
The Mustangs’ starting quarterback also makes his presence known to younger players on the field.
“The thing about Andre is that he takes it upon himself to make sure everyone is ready to work at practice, and we take care of business,” freshman Marcus Paige-Allen said. “He leads by doing.”