DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Junior quarterback Jared Elliott has been "one of the better surprises" for Miami University's spring football camp, according to head coach Shane Montgomery.

Oops. Make that junior wide receiver Jared Elliott.

After two shoulder operations, Elliott has seen the light. And now, in terms of getting a chance to play after three seasons of almost total inactivity, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound native of Franklin, Tenn. is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"I got to a point where I knew my shoulder was never going to be the same as far as throwing," Elliott said Thursday following a team scrimmage at Yager Stadium.

"I wanted to get out onto the field," he said. "I wanted to help the team. So I talked with coach Montgomery. I just had to get out onto the field, no matter what."

Elliott came to Miami in 2004, he was being groomed to be the program's next great quarterback. He had it all — arm strength, size, personal poise.

But his redshirt freshman season ended with surgery, which put him at a major disadvantage in last year's three-man competition for the starting job, which was earned by Mike Kokal.

Elliott has never caught a pass in a real game, but Montgomery said he has a real chance to play at wideout this fall.

"He had never played receiver before," Montgomery said, "but he knows what he's supposed to do. Being an ex-quarterback, he knows all the routes. He's been one of our better surprises.

"I know he feels good just to be out there playing. He has a new attitude."

Elliott will be an inside receiver, which is fine with Kokal.

"The thing about Jared,

he's 6-5 and going to be a big target," Kokal said.

Elliott passed for 4,800 yards and 38 touchdowns during his high school career and considered to have excellent mobility for a quarterback.

A big play, a big hit

The highlight of Thursday's scrimmage was a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior linebacker Clayton Mullins.

"The offense dominated the first half," Montgomery said, "and the defense dominated the second half. Obviously, you want to see both sides of the ball have as much success as possible."

The Miami coach said Kokal had two very good series in the first half. Kokal also took a big-time hit late in the scrimmage. He staggered off the field, but later said he was OK.

"It's tough on the quarterbacks," Montgomery said. "You like for them to get hit a little bit in practice so they get used to real-game situations, but you also want them to be healthy when the season starts."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.