John Kinder didn’t recognize the phone number.

The 10-digit combination was unfamiliar to the star high school quarterback. In the short time following his recent commitment last spring to play football for Syracuse, the 6-foot-3 190 pound dual-threat quarterback had heard an increased buzz about himself. But he wasn’t expecting this phone call, where the only thing he recognized was the first three numbers – 516, the area code of his native Nassau (N.Y.) County on Long Island.

When the high school senior picked up the line, it was someone from near his hometown. But it also happened to be someone from Kinder’s future residence at Syracuse – legendary SU quarterback Don McPherson.

‘He was just telling me that I will have a lot of fun,’ Kinder said. ‘Telling me that it is tough playing quarterback for the Orange, but to keep up the good work.’

Kinder and fellow Orange quarterback recruit Jonny Miller will make up the first pair of quarterback commitments to the team since 2007, and headline the Class of 2010 – the first full recruiting class for head coach Doug Marrone. The duo makes up two of the top four recruits the Orange received verbal commitments from thus far.

McPherson, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame who led Syracuse to an undefeated season in 1987, hails from West Hempstead, N.Y. A little less than 25 years ago, McPherson grappled with the same situation, the same butterflies Kinder is experiencing now. All around the same New York City neighborhoods.

That’s why Kinder thinks the former Maxwell Award winner reached out to him. In the young quarterback’s mind perhaps it was an easy call to make. The right call to make.

‘He’s right around the corner from us,’ Kinder said. ‘He gave me a call because he knew where I was from.’

The excitement and positive reception surrounding SU’s two quarterback commitments have been greater this year than in years past, with Kinder garnering comparisons to McPherson, and Miller being lauded for his potential and advanced technique.

‘That’s just an honor,’ Kinder said about the comparison to McPherson. ‘I’m taken aback by that.’

Though Kinder is receiving all of the lofty comparisons to a Syracuse legend, Miller, who led Mullen (Colo.) High School to a state championship last year, is far from an afterthought. Both players got three stars in rankings published at Scout.com.

Comparisons have accompanied Miller’s play as well, albeit 1,800 miles away from McPherson and Kinder’s alcove on Long Island. Miller, with his advanced pocket presence and mechanics, has been likened to a quarterback who has resided halfway across the country for almost the entirety of the past two decades.

For Matt Alkire, recruiting analyst for Scout.com, Miller evokes shades of Brett Favre.

‘I thought that Miller might be a little bit of a steal for Syracuse,’ Alkire said. ‘I like the upside of him. I remember watching Brett Favre in the league and the things he could do in the pocket. He made some boneheaded moves, but was a gunslinger. Miller seems to have that same mentality.’

It’s comparisons like these that make Miller even more anxious to get to campus.

‘It’s exciting I’m flattered to hear things like that,’ Miller said. ‘That makes me more excited to show what I can do.’

Dave Logan – Miller’s head coach at Mullen – is a former star athlete in his own right. He knows all about the comparisons that accompany quarterbacks like Kinder and Miller. As one of only two athletes to have been drafted by all three major professional sports leagues (the other being Dave Winfield), he knows what Miller is going through now.

‘He’s used to playing in big games,’ Logan said. ‘He will compete for a job when given the opportunity. He’s been a heck of a general on the field.’

Both Kinder and Miller committed at a time when the SU football program was going through changes. Kinder, who was recruited by secondary coach John Anselmo and Miller, who was recruited by special teams coordinator Bob Casullo, gave their verbal commits in April and July, respectively. They are aware in the changing schemes that come with a new head coach.

But these are changes both players think they are ready for and have experience with, particularly the Stallion formation – an adaptation of the Wildcat formation. Kinder gives credit to his athleticism, and Miller cites his experience.

‘I have versatility,’ Kinder said. ‘I can pass the deep ball and can take off and run. I feel that in college that is something that a quarterback needs to have. I think that’s great, the Wildcat offense.’

‘We ask him to run the ball from the shotgun,’ Logan said of Miller. ‘He’s not a Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State quarterback), but he can escape the pocket and make plays with his feet. If they decide to use him in some sort of Wildcat alignment, I think he will do just fine.’

Over the past few months Kinder and Miller have shored up the quarterback situation for Syracuse’s 2010 class, one that the SU coaches told the duo would consist of two quarterbacks all along. But neither has been in touch with the other yet.

A few months from now, they will meet up. Their arrival on campus will bring about more comparisons and, inevitably, competition. Syracuse will be looking for a quarterback next year, and the two freshmen may be in the mix along with redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib and true freshman Charley Loeb.

‘Competition doesn’t scare me,’ Miller said. ‘I think that with the competition we will all get better as a unit, it takes a whole unit to get better. I’m pretty outspoken and we will be competing for the same thing, but we can still be friends.’

It appears Kinder and Miller may be good enough to give that starting role a run. Alkire said Miller is further along than where Nassib was at this point in his career.

‘I saw a lot of Ryan Nassib live,’ Alkire said. ‘I think (Miller) is a better quarterback than Nassib was coming out of high school.’

When the two quarterbacks arrive on campus, they will meet McPherson in person, Miller for the first time.

But for Kinder, it’ll be the second conversation, this time with a little bit more knowledge of exactly what he is getting himself into. He’ll finally be a part of the squad he has always wanted to play on. A program that he intended on sending his tape to last year, even if not requested.

And who better to talk with about playing quarterback at Syracuse than Don McPherson?

‘I’d ask him about his game experiences and playing in the Sugar Bowl on that undefeated team,’ Kinder said. ‘How loud the stadium got. What was going through his mind?’

At least this time, he’ll be ready.

aolivero@syr.edu

Published on October 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm