Go-to guy: McCall evolves into top target

Published 8:00 am Friday, October 6, 2023

With the exit of Tre’ Simmons from the Cowboys roster, there is clearly no question about who the quarterback is.

Gone is all talk about playing two quarterbacks or looking over any shoulders. Nate Glantz is the leader in the huddle.

For Glantz, that was never in doubt.

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“I never looked over my shoulder,” Glantz said. “I always felt like the No. 1 quarterback.”

But every quarterback needs that guy to throw the football to. Glantz seems to have found his guy.

Jon McCall was a young receiver last year struggling to find his game while injuries and inconsistent play forced McNeese State to use four quarterbacks. McCall had a few good moments and a few not-so-good.

His play left questions heading into the spring, but the redshirt sophomore hit his stride at the same time Glantz came to town from Iowa State. The two are now finding a rhythm and becoming a solid combination for the Cowboys (0-5, 0-1 Southland Conference).

“We are starting to get more and more comfortable with each other,” McCall said. “We work together a lot.”

Over the last two weeks, Glantz and McCall have combined on three touchdown passes, giving the offense the big-play threat it was searching for in the early going.

“Obviously we didn’t get off to the start we wanted, but it has been a process,” Glantz said. “You have to learn how the other guys play.

“Jon is able to make plays and he can make all the catches. He is somebody you can count on and can go to.”

Not only does McCall have all of the Cowboys’ receiving touchdowns (3), he leads the club in catches (15) and yards (256). Perhaps more importantly, he has also become a leader in a receiving room that McCall says is loaded with young talent.

“I have tried to become more of a leader this year,” McCall said. “We have a lot of young players and they are working hard to get better.”

Of the 11 Cowboys on the roster who have caught a pass this year, eight of them are new to the team. That includes true freshman Makhi Paris, who is second on the club in catches and yards.

Paris has 12 grabs for 174 yards but is waiting on his first touchdown.

“We have a lot of young guys who are coming along fast that we have to count on,” Glantz said. “It takes time but we are getting better and getting our game going.”

NOTES: Cameron McCalister became the second quarterback to leave the program this week. McCalister joins Simmons in the NCAA transfer portal. McCalister is a redshirt freshman who didn’t get into a game during his time at McNeese. … The Cowboys moved Thursday’s practice to the morning to beat the rain. It worked as they got their full workout in before the storm hit.