'08 IL QB Caleb TerBush (Purdue Signee)

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Metamora (IL) Metamora

Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 215 lbs
Forty: 4.6 secs

PJStar.com - High School Sports

Purdue isn't taking pass on Metamora QB
TerBush impressive enough at camp to earn ride to Big Ten school

Monday, October 1, 2007

BY WES HUETT
OF THE JOURNAL STAR

Caleb TerBush doesn't have prolific numbers. He hasn't set passing records. Yet the Metamora senior has something only few high school quarterbacks ever get: a scholarship offer to Purdue.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound TerBush verbally committed to the Big Ten university this weekend after a visit to the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, Ind.

"They said they wanted to take a chance on me," TerBush said. "They know I come from a school that doesn't throw that much, but they've seen me at camps and in game situations. ... They know I have the ability."

Wyoming and Western Illinois were other schools recruiting the strong-armed TerBush, who impressed the Boilermakers during a visit to a one-day camp this summer. Purdue co-offensive coordinator Ed Zaunbrecher, who attended Metamora's Week 3 victory over Dunlap, made the offer this weekend after TerBush, his parents and teammate Brad Herman visited the school.

Herman, a 6-5, 220-pound linebacker, is on Purdue's list and also has interest from Missouri, Ball State and Illinois State.

"It didn't hit me right away," said TerBush, who was just minutes into his journey home when he phoned back to accept. "I was kind of speechless, and then it settled in."

TerBush is the third Metamora quarterback in 10 years to head to a Division I program out of high school. Joe Stamm and Jamie Dishroom began their college careers at Northern Illinois and Navy, respectively, despite playing as part of a prep progam better known for its smashmouth running game.

Metamora coach Pat Ryan says he's enjoyed opening his playbook a bit more this season to utilize his first-year starter. TerBush is 31-for-48 for 593 yards and five touchdowns for the unbeaten Redbirds, ranked No. 3 statewide in Class 5A. He has rushed for 411 yards and nine TDs for the state's highest-scoring team.

"It shows you that stats aren't what they're really looking for," Ryan said. "What put Caleb over the top was his size. He's not just a pocket passer; he has great feet and can run. He's the complete package at the next level."

Purdue, meanwhile, is a program known for its prolific passing offense. NFL players Drew Brees and Kyle Orton played under Purdue coach Joe Tiller, and Zaunbrecher has his own history of success with QBs.

In previous coaching stops at Florida and Marshall, Zaunbrecher tutored NFLers Rex Grossman, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich.

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Metamora edges Morris in 5A :: LATEST NEWS :: High School Sports :: Illinois :: Indiana :: Sun-Times News Group

Metamora drove deep into Morris territory, but Caleb TerBush was picked off in the end zone on a fourth down play by Stephen Wager with 14 seconds left in the quarter.

Duvendack capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive in which Purdue-bound quarterback Caleb Terbush did most of the damage. TerBush led the Redbirds to pay dirt by using his arm and legs. He had a 14-yard scramble, completed a 12-yard pass to Brad Herman with a defender in his face and moved the ball via quarterback sweeps.

Key player of the 2nd quarter: Caleb Terbush, Metamora. The Purdue-bound quarterback paced the Redbirds' rushing attack that ended in an Adam Duvendack score and gave Metamora its first lead of the game