State-Journal.com - Weaver unexpectedly signs with K-State over Louisville

State Journal/Kelly Mackey Frankfort High's Quan Weaver looks over letters of intent from the University of Louisville and Kentucky State University. Weaver signed with KSU.

Everyone knew where Quan Weaver was going to go to college. He was going to Louisville. He was going to play football for the Cardinals.

That’s what the newspapers and TV stations said, that’s what the U of L coaching staff said, that’s what Quan said. That’s what was fact. But facts have a way of changing over time. Slowly at first, then all at once.

Weaver took in the moment Wednesday afternoon in the Frankfort High library, where students and teachers gathered to watch four of their own sign letters of intent to play college athletics and continue their education.

As teammates Dwight Tillman, Aaron Hall and Deshon Floyd eagerly signed letters to play Division II football up the hill at Kentucky State, Weaver smiled slyly at the two pieces of paper on the table in front of him.

This was his future. This was his decision. Only he knew what he wanted in the next phase of his life.

In faux spontaneity Weaver pushed one of the papers to the floor, rapidly scribbling his John Hancock on the other.

The letter on the floor: Louisville. The letter in his hand: Kentucky State.

Weaver gained notoriety as one of the best running backs in the state as a junior, accumulating 2,243 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns with the Panthers before losing his senior season to an ACL tear.

Who knew he would be pulling off the biggest juke of his high school career with the flick of a pen?

“People’s first thought will probably be, ‘He only (chose Kentucky State) because of his friends’,” Weaver said, “but I’m doing what I think is best for me.

“I was thinking about what people were telling me, saying don’t go there because of this or that. In the end, I did what I wanted to do.”

Weaver gave little indication that he was wavering on his commitment to the Cardinals since he verbally committed last spring.

According to multiple media reports, Louisville was planning on grayshirting the 5-11, 180-pound back his freshman season, meaning he wouldn’t participate with the team until the spring semester of 2011.

Weaver said he stuck to his commitment during a visit to the U of L campus in mid-January and even convinced a couple other recruits to commit there.

Won’t those two be surprised?

“I didn’t know this was happening today,” Frankfort High coach Craig Foley said. “I thought he was going to U of L.

“You always want to see your kids go as far as they can go. You can always go to a bigger school and come back; you can’t always go to a local school and go on somewhere else. It’s a little bit more difficult to go that route.

“He still gets to go play college football and he still gets a chance at an education. That’s the important part.”

Foley said Weaver’s path towards becoming a Thorobred began two weeks ago with a visit from KSU assistant coach Kenyatta McCoy, who told Weaver he would be a welcomed addition to the team should his Division I career not work out.

“It was a courtesy talk more than anything,” Foley said. “They threw it out there that if you get (to Louisville) and you’re not happy you can always come back. I guess the talks progressed from there.

“I know they promised him the opportunity to play right away which is something that must have weighed in on his mind.”

Kentucky State head coach Wayne Dickens, who said he hadn’t had contact with Weaver since he verbally committed to the Cards, seemed slightly incredulous upon hearing about the signing.

He said he would celebrate with the strongest drink he can handle: Pepsi.

“He’s a whale of a football player,” Dickens said. “Anyone who has a chance to see him play knows that.”

Dickens said the addition of Weaver may signify a turning point for the K-State football program, which produced its first winning season in three years under Dickens’ leadership.

“It would have to say something I think of the public perception of the program,” he said. “It would have to say to me that we’ve at least turned a corner somewhere.”

Weaver said he plans on redshirting his freshman season to get his body back into shape after having surgery to repair the torn ligament in his leg last fall.

“I wouldn’t play anywhere in the nation the way it is,” he said.

He plans on running track this spring if doctors declare him fit to compete this month.

Weaver said his long-term goals were to graduate with a degree in business and to participate in the NFL combine.

“They say if you’re good you can perform at any level,” Weaver said. “If you’re good enough, you can make it no matter where you go.”