By Fred Jeter
special correspondent

Cosby High School quarterback Fuller Hoepner wears No. 10, but he’d be just as comfortable in No. 32 or 55. The robust 6-foot-3, 220-pound senior is a strong-armed passer with a tailback’s quick feet and a linebacker’s tenacity.

“Fuller isn’t a quarterback who avoids contact,” Titans coach Pete Mutascio said. “He’d just as soon run you over and deliver the lick.”

Hoepner puts it like this: “I only run out of bounds if we’re trying to save the clock.”

It’s fitting Hoepner’s nickname is “Tebow,” after the hardnosed Florida Gator QB.

In spurring Cosby’s 3-0 start, Hoepner drew style points as a hard-to-defend passer/runner combination. His three-game statistics include 488 yards passing (38-for-58, 7 TDs) and 295 rushing (5.9 per-carry average, 4 TDs). The son of Paul and Cathy Hoepner passed for 144 yards and ran for another 106 in the Titans’ first-ever victory over next-door Clover Hill. He scooted for 112 and passed for 99 in the victory over James River. 

“If you’ve got a kid who can toss and also run, that’s a good situation,” Mutascio said.

For good measure, much-stained No. 10 in Titans’ blue, silver and black also contributed a couple of tackles per game as a back-up linebacker/strong safety.

His broad shoulders would be utilized much more on defense if he weren’t so valuable on attack.

“I never played quarterback until ninth grade,” he said of his Chesterfield Quarterback League roots. “I was always a running back and linebacker.”

A year ago, Hoepner had 1,037 yards passing and 504 yards rushing in his first varsity starting assignment. This fall, he’s felt the urge to carry more due to a leg injury suffered by Terry Williams, who rushed for 748 yards in eight games in ’08.

“We’re all trying to take up the slack for Terry – to fill that void,” Hoepner said.

Partly due to Williams misfortune, Hoepner has an outside chance of joining one of quarterbacking’s elite fraternities – the 1,000/1,000 Club (1,000 yards rushing, 1,000 yards passing).

Among Central Regions QBs, the feat was achieved by Daninelle Derricott in Patrick Henry’s 1994 chase to the State Division 5 title.

Like Derricott (who went on to star at Marshall as a defensive back), Hoepner’s versatility makes him a candidate to be moved to another position.

“A lot of schools are recruiting Fuller simply as an athlete,” Mutascio said.

He has an official recruiting visit to Penn State Nov. 7. In-state, William & Mary is the frontrunner although Virginia Tech (his dad’s alma mater) is also in the picture.

A spillover crowd in the vicinity of 4,000 is expected for the Bird at Cosby 7:30 p.m. kickoff Oct. 9. The Titans have never defeated the perennial Dominion champion Skyhawks, and it would take a best effort in school history to spring the upset this time.

Cosby has been elevated to Division 6 this fall, so there’s little wiggle room for post-season invitations. Only District champs are assured a trip to the post season.

Even a 9-1, non-District champion isn’t guaranteed the playoffs. And consider: Cosby still has a non-Dominion date with powerhouse Varina.

Away from the gridiron, Hoepner plays varsity basketball, is a member of the National Honor Society and of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, plus he does electrical work for Earl Cheatham, whom he met through Tomahawk Baptist Church.

“I do outlets, wiring … nothing too dangerous,” Hoepner said. “It’s a nice skill to have.”

From athletic stock, Hoepner’s cousin, Kelsey Conyers, is the point guard on the Cosby girls’ basketball team. Another cousin, Jacob Hagy, is a basketball standout at Colonial Heights. An older brother, Erich, was a linebacker on Cosby’s first varsity team four years ago.

On his birth certificate, the Titans’ QB is Joseph Fuller Hoepner, although he goes exclusively by Fuller. “The only time I’m called Joseph,” he says, “is when my mom’s mad at me.”