Can Knoch football make deeper playoff run with new QB and Codi Mullen at WR? The Knights think so
As Knoch football's all-time passing leader, it would be easy for Codi Mullen to focus on what he's already accomplished. Instead, he is concentrating on what he can still be part of.
Over the last two seasons, he passed for more than 3,400 yards and, between rushing and passing, accounted for 38 touchdowns. But he will not be directing the offense this year.
Colt Sprankle, who turned in a superb effort at Armstrong High School in 2023, moved with his family into the Knoch School District in December and will be quarterbacking the Knights as a junior this fall. The PIAA ruled this summer Sprankle eligible to play in the postseason, according to triblive.com.
"When we got to team workouts in the spring, I wasn't getting many snaps at quarterback," Mullen said. "I've always been a quarterback and I loved it, but never really threw the ball much in youth leagues. After seeing what I was capable of at the position, I was obviously looking forward to being there again my senior year.
"But I've seen Colt throw the ball. He can really launch it and can make any throw needed on the field."
Knoch went 8-2 in the regular season last year, placed second in the Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference and made the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in nine years. The season ended with a first-round loss to South Park.
Sprankle is eager to get going. He got productive work in with his teammates in a number of 7-on-7 drills this summer.
The Knights believe the talented offense they will attack defenses with will give them a good chance to extend their season deeper into November.
In his first year as a starter last season, the 6-foot, 160-pound Sprankle passed for 761 yards and 11 touchdowns in Armstrong's first five games before an injury to his collarbone ended his season.
"I was only 145 pounds and was inexperienced, and I think that limited what I was asked to do," Sprankle said. "Aside from the injury, I think I was capable of even more. Now I've got a year of experience under my belt and I weigh 160 pounds.
"We don't have a lot of tendencies on offense, and that's going to make it tough for teams to defend us. The entire field is going to be available for us on every play."
Sprankle’s mobility will be a major factor in Knoch's rushing attack and will give his receivers more time to get open downfield.
He’ll hit the ground running for the Knights with a stacked skill set.
"He's got a strong arm, good footwork, can run and has all the tools to play quarterback at the next level,” Burchett said.
The incumbent Sprankle is replacing, Mullen, will be far from a backup quarterback.
"He's such a good athlete, he is going to help us open things up offensively," Knoch coach Tim Burchett said. "He'll be listed as a receiver on the roster, but has the ability to play at any of the six skill positions and could still be taking snaps on some plays. He was more than receptive to the idea of moving on from being the starting quarterback.
"He's not going to play quarterback in college, so it will be good for him to have tape of himself at wide receiver and defensive back."
His knowledge of Knoch's spread offense gave Mullen a head start in his new role.
"After being the quarterback the last two years, I know all the routes the receivers have to run and what they need to do," he said. "I know I can help this team at different positions and I feel comfortable."
His addition to the receiving corps will give Sprankle another athletic target to get the ball to, complementing top returning receiver and senior Kaden Spencer.
Spencer (6 feet, 195 pounds) caught 38 passes for 570 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.
"Kaden looks like a possession receiver, but he's always running away from people on pass routes," Burchett said. "He consistently is getting four yards of separation from defensive backs and makes the tough catches look routine. We'll be getting him the ball a lot."
Spencer is ready for that responsibility.
"I accept the challenge," he said. "We have some other receivers — Codi, Wyatt Fraser and Keaton Oprosky — and I want to be the leader of the group. I put on 10 to 15 pounds of muscle since last year, and that will help me with breaking tackles and just being more physical."
Even though he is new to the program, Sprankle already feels entrenched as a member of the Knoch football family.
"All the coaches, Codi and the rest of the team have been so supportive of me," he said. "I feel no external pressure and have full opportunity to be successful."
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