Valdosta State's Hatcher gets best from ex-Wildcat QB

MACON, Ga. - If anybody can figure out how to handle a quarterback race, Chris Hatcher is high on the list.<br> <br> And about six weeks ago, it sure looked like he might oversee one at Valdosta State.<br> <br> Instead, the seventh-year Blazers coach comfortably has a more stable quarterback situation than he expected, with Fort Valley State transfer Willie Copeland having taken a firm grasp of the starting position over returning veteran Barrett Wilkes.<br> <br> ``Willie just had a great camp,&#39;&#39; Hatcher said of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior from Rex. ``I think he&#39;s played well the first two games, especially being in a new system.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Copeland has completed 42-of-75 passes for 460 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.<br> <br> The Blazers are 2-0 and ranked sixth in NCAA Division II. They host Arkansas Tech on Saturday in their Gulf South Conference opener after taking last weekend off following season-opening wins against Albany State (20-16) and Fort Valley State (31-3).<br> <br> Hatcher and the Blazers have several times been the beneficiaries of a transfer from a Division I-A school, but this time are thriving with a key player coming from their own level.<br> <br> The veteran coach, once an All-America quarterback at Valdosta State, admitted he didn&#39;t quite expect the quarterback position to play out as it has at least this quickly.<br> <br> ``I was really pleased with how well he picked up the system when he came in,&#39;&#39; Hatcher said. ``That was the big question mark: can he pick the system up fast enough in order to be able to compete for the job? He did, and he&#39;s done really well.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Hatcher said Copeland has quite a strong arm and good mobility with ``great pocket feet.&#39;&#39; Copeland&#39;s quick grasp of the offense helped put Wilkes, who missed spring practice with a torn labrum, into the backup role.<br> <br> ``We feel like we can do more with Willie right now,&#39;&#39; said Hatcher, 70-10 at Valdosta State. ``But if we have to play Wilkes, he&#39;s very capable of being the guy. If Willie was to falter, we&#39;re not concerned in the least to put Wilkes in.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Hatcher continues to mine Middle Georgia for talent, and this year, the Blazers have plenty of impact players from the region.<br> <br> Wideout Derek Tharpe (Warner Robins) leads the team with three touchdowns and is second in receiving (10 catches, 137 yards). Chad Bryant (Dooly County) is averaging 11.1 yards a carry and 61 a game at running back.<br> <br> Linebackers Lavarus Dollar (Dublin), William Montford (Crisp County), and Gio Blalock (Peach County) are fourth, sixth, and 12th, respectively, in tackles. About eight other familiar names are on the roster.<br> <br> Yet it&#39;s the one who came from a Middle Georgia college inquiring not long after the Wildcats fired head coach John Morgan in May who may be this year&#39;s biggest spark for the Blazers.<br> <br> ``We remembered him and watched the tape and knew he was a really good player,&#39;&#39; said Hatcher, who saw Copeland go 9-of-15 for 138 yards off the bench in Fort Valley&#39;s 32-10 loss to the Blazers in Macon 13 months ago.<br> <br> ``I remember making the comment after that game (that) we couldn&#39;t understand why he wasn&#39;t the starter,&#39;&#39; he added.<br> <br> He&#39;s a starter now, and for the No. 6 team in the country.<br> <br> Information from: The Macon Telegraph, http://www.macon.com<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)