BERKELEY, Calif. -- Marques Tuiasosopo's new job as quarterbacks coach at California has a key parallel to his first foray into the college football world 20 years ago.
When Tuiasosopo was a high school senior in 1997, a bevy of Power-5 programs wanted him -- but as a safety. Hometown Washington was one of the few to guarantee Tuiasosopo a chance to compete for quarterback, so the 6-foot-1 prospect signed with the Huskies.
"I could have gone to any school," Tuiasosopo said. "But I loved quarterback."
The insistence to be under center paid off: Tuiasosopo played quarterback as a true freshman for Washington, became the only player in college football history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 200 more in the same game as a junior, and won Rose Bowl MVP honors as a senior in 2000.