A Look Back at Some 2014 Southern Conference Recruits

Oct 18, 2014; Columbia, SC, USA; Furman Paladins quarterback P.J. Blazejowski (7) passes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

P.J. Blazejowski (Furman)–It was thought that Furman’s P.J. Blazejowski would likely redshirt the 2014 football season, however, after an injury to Reese Hannon early in the season, the native of St. Augustine High School would eventually find his way onto the football field as the Paladins’ starting quarterback by the time the Paladins met Coastal Carolina in a mid-season non-conference clash at Paladin Stadium.

Blazejowski would shine as the Paladins’ starter despite the Paladins’ struggle to finish 3-9 on the season. The Bartram Trail product would end up finishing the 2014 season by completing 110-of-185 passes for 1,376 yards, with nine TD tosses and seven INTs.

As a rushing threat, Blazejowski capped his freshman season by going for 363 yards and four scores on 84 attempts (4.3 YPC). Blazejowski was the second-leading rusher for the Paladins last fall. All told, Blazejowski would end up finishing the campaign with 1,739 all-purpose yards following his inaugural season as the Furman quarterback.

Blazejowski would take the field with Furman trailing Western Carolina, 28-10, in the first Southern Conference game, and he would assume the starting job for the remainder of the season.

As the season progressed, Blazejowski would improve and as he improved, the offense would follow suit, playing some of its best football in the final three regular-season games.

Blazejowski would set school single-game marks late in the season against The Citadel and Wofford. The true freshman from Saint Augustine, FL, would post 382 yards of total offense in a 42-35 overtime loss to The Citadel. In the 31-14 win over Wofford, Blazejowski would complete a school-record 15-of-15 passes for 305 yards and a pair of scores, leading the Paladins to a 31-14 win over Wofford to claim their third win of the season.

Blazejowski wasn’t the only freshman that would prove to be productive for the Paladins, and when the injuries started to mount up, the Paladins would have to utilize some of its true freshmen that head coach Bruce Fowler was hoping to redshirt in the 2014 season, but would see some good things throughout the season, especially from players like running back Isaac Garcia and center Matthew Schmidt.

Next: Alan Cobb-VMI