QB contender steps right up

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Feb 24, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

CORVALLIS Ñ The big kid looks even bigger. The strong left arm looks even stronger.

The start of the Sean Canfield era doesn’t appear too far away.

“Sean can make all the throws,” Oregon State coach Mike Riley says of Canfield, a Carlsbad, Calif., native who redshirted his freshman season in 2005. “He has all the physical stuff you need to be a quarterback. The next big step is to be able to handle all the things you have to handle to become a quarterback. I’m confident he’ll do that in time.”

It is almost a foregone conclusion that OSU fans will get their long-awaited look at Canfield on the field next fall. The 6-4 left-hander has bulked to nearly 230 pounds, up from the 205 he carried when he arrived last spring after graduating early from high school.

Canfield will begin spring practice third-string behind starter Matt Moore and junior backup Ryan Gunderson. Riley says all three will get “plenty of snaps” during spring drills and August workouts.

The battle will likely be between Gunderson, the respected Central Catholic grad, and Canfield. The redshirt freshman says he is looking forward to the competition.

“I can already tell the difference, how much stronger I am,” Canfield says. “The arm strength has really jumped up, and your body benefits in every way.”

After earning Avocado Conference offensive player of the year honors three straight years at Carlsbad High, Canfield sat out last season.

“It was pretty tough,” he says, “but I saw it as a positive. It was a chance to learn the system and take in the playbook for the first year. It helped me with my confidence. I’m glad I came in early for spring ball, because it gave me a step up on everybody. But not playing is the one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

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