Knowing that it would be his senior season, Adam Reinhart wanted to maximize his effort for his team this fall.

So, he decided to try his hand at quarterback.

“We had some young guys, but it looked like they weren’t going to come out,” said Reinhart. “I wanted to do what was best for the team. I told the coaches that I would play quarterback if they wanted me to.

“I played a little bit when I was younger, but it wasn’t anything serious. I like to run and I believe that I can throw the ball pretty well.”

Last season, Reinhart rushed for 236 yards on 70 carries with two touchdowns and he also caught a team-high 18 passes for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Before the move, head coach Mike McClarin already saw Reinhart being a major figure this season. It is the second transformation from a wide receiver to quarterback in the past two years as Andrew Martinez made the same move before last season.

“We knew Adam (Reinhart) would have a big role this season,” said McClarin. “He is a big, tough kid who likes to run the football and likes to hit.

“He came to us and asked if he could play quarterback, and we knew Adam will be a good fit. He is a confident kid with a lot of skills. Adam is a leader out there.”

Reinhart understands McClarin’s confidence in him.

“He (McClarin) pulled me aside and told me to step up as a leader in this role,” said Reinhart. “It’s up to me to do the best I can. We all have to pull this together. There shouldn’t be any finger pointing at anybody.”

Reinhart began his new quest in late spring and he was happy with the early returns.

“We did a lot of positive things,” he said. “I thought I threw the ball well in the 7-on-7 drills. I just have to adjust to the speed of the receivers. It is about getting the ball to our guys in a timely manner, not too far in front or too far behind.”

With a new single caller at the helm, McClarin has reconfigured his potent triple-option offense.

“The offense was scaled down a little and the coaches are looking to keep it basic,” said Reinhart. “Right now, it is just about timing. I do like running the ball and I will have plenty of chances.

“But I am confident that I can throw the ball down field.”

Despite having a small, young squad, Reinhart likes the team’s approach from a 1-10 season last year. He may see some time at safety in defense.

“We all have been working hard and we’re looking forward to his season,” said Reinhart. “Our linemen have played together for a few years and most of them worked out all spring in the weight room.

“We believe we can win a few more games and need to stay healthy. I know I can be blamed when we lose a game, but I am ready for it. We all have to be ready for the season.”