Meyer, Oosterbaan: Two Marist Football Quarterbacks Work Toward One Goal

Coming off a state championship appearance in 2009, Marist football coach Pat Dunne knew replacing all-area senior quarterback Mike Perish last season was going to be a tall order.

It was a problem that wouldn't be solved by just one person. So, Dunne called upon two: juniors Luke Oosterbaan and Ryan Meyer. The two quarterback prospects competed in the team’s summer camp, each boasting different skill sets.

“Luke (Oosterbaan) was more of a passer, could run the ball a bit, too,” Dunne said. “But Ryan (Meyer) was more of a runner and did a tremendous job running the ball.”

The natural solution was to split time between the two quarterbacks at the start of the season. And it worked well early on. Marist won its first three games and the offense put up 106 points. In Week 3 against Notre Dame, Oosterbaan threw for two scores, while Meyer capped the 27-15 victory with a 22-yard rushing touchdown.

The unusual situation worked in part because of the relationship Oosterbaan and Meyer had off the field.  

“Me and Ryan are great friends; we’ve been great friends,” Oosterbaan said. “We’re always there to pick each other up and just be there for each other.”

Inevitably, there were up-and-down moments for each first-year quarterback. Dunne didn’t have a set plan and chose to play whoever had the hot hand during a game.

But as the season played out, Oosterbaan took more of the snaps at quarterback in Marist’s spread offense, while Meyer was fit into other roles.

The athletic 6-foot-4 rising senior spent time at running back, wide receiver, kick returner and, most prominently, free safety for Marist. Surprisingly, it was on the defensive side of the ball that he started garnering attention as a college prospect.

“He’s one of our best athletes on the team going into this season,” Dunne said. “He’s such a versatile kid that he had no problem in regards to moving over to the defensive side of the ball. It’s a natural position for him because he’s so athletic.”

“In grammar school, I played free safety,” said Meyer, who is now getting looks from schools like Indiana, Northwestern, Western Michigan and Harvard as a free safety. “I adjusted well to it because I know where the quarterback is looking and was used to playing quarterback. It came easy to me.”

Compared to one season ago, the situation is a little different for Oosterbaan and Meyer coming into Marist’s summer football camp. Oosterbaan is recovering from a broken hand, but will be competing with rising junior Ian Woodworth for the starting quarterback job.

"Just little things like footwork and mechanics, but mostly adding on to the things that were done last year," said Oosterbaan when asked what he needed to improve upon. 

Meyer will continue to focus his energy at safety and as a returner, but will still get a handful of snaps at quarterback in certain packages as a change of pace.

"It was very surprising kind of how it all played out," Meyer said. "I went to receiver, then to running back, then to free safety. So, it all worked out in the end."

The circumstances may be different, but the goal remains the same: rekindle some of the magic from that 2009 season.

“The greatest thing about (Meyer and Oosterbaan) is they’re team players," Dunne said. "They’re team first and they know that.”

“We’ve got great seniors, and we’re just working very hard," Oosterbaan said. “Our long-term goal is definitely going back downstate and winning the state championship.”