When standout quarterback Tony Pike went down with an injury to his arm in the middle of the 2009 football season, it was red-shirt sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros who was asked to step in and take over the helm under center for the Bearcat offense. Brian Kelly, who was the head coach at the time, didn’t expect much from his backup quarterback from Steubenville High School in Ohio, and for good reason. After all, Collaros had red-shirted as a freshman in 2007 and attempted just four passes in the whole of 2008, serving as one of five total passers for Cincinnati that year. Collaros surprised, however, showing tremendous comfort and composure as a game manager in a 34-17 win for his team after Pike went down against the University of South Florida.