:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28028083/cg.0.png)
Arizona State knows that Taylor Kelly has just one year of eligibility remaining, and the Sun Devils are stocking up at the quarterback position on National Signing Day.
On Wednesday, the Sun Devils signed quarterback Coltin Gerhart out of Vista Murrieta High School in Southern California. Gerhart led the Broncos to a 12-2 season in which he passed for 1,733 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2013. Gerhart served as a dual-threat for the Broncos out of the backfield as he also rushed for 1,418 yards and 25 touchdowns during his senior season.
Throughout the recruiting cycle, the Sun Devils were confident that they would sign their "quarterback of the future" in Northern California product Manny Wilkins. Todd Graham and his staff initially recruited Gerhart as a safety, but Gerhart decided he wanted to try playing quarterback in college and Arizona State obliged.
Gerhart could still end up playing safety at the college level, but it appears as though his first opportunities will come at quarterback where he will study under offensive coordinator Mike Norvell.
At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Gerhart doesn't have the prototypical quarterback body, but he does have a proven track record of success at one of the top Southern California high schools. It's hard to doubt a recruit like Gerhart because he comes from a family of athletes. His older brother Toby was a Heisman Trophy finalist during his days as a powerful, downhill running back at Stanford.
Gerhart's Rivals.com profile lists a number of enticing offers including Duke, California and Oklahoma. According to Rivals, Gerhart only made two official visits (Arizona State and Nebraska) and despite his interest in Nebraska, he decided to maintain his status as a verbal commitment to the Sun Devils.
It will be interesting to see how Gerhart's career develops at Arizona State and which side of the football he ends up on. Regardless of which position he plays, Arizona State is content for the time being that it was able to land a player with Gerhart's versatility.
