COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M wide receiver Chad Schroeder is smart and deceptively quick.
But those qualities don't explain his statistics this season.
Each of the former quarterback's four catches have been for touchdowns. His only rush also went for a score.
His teammates have inserted the word "Touchdown" between Schroeder's first and last name, and his knack for scoring every time he touches the ball has them talking about him with reverence.
"Every time Chad touches it, it's a touchdown," fellow receiver Jason Carter said. "Everybody knows that."
Even Schroeder can't tell you the secret to his success, but he's reveling in it.
"I don't know, but I'll take it," he said. "Coach Fran
[Dennis Franchione] always talks about preparing for your
opportunity and luckily when it's come I've been able to take care
of it."
It probably doesn't hurt that Schroeder spent years as a
quarterback and grew up immersed in the game as the son of Ron
Schroeder, the former longtime coach at Austin Westlake.
"He does have an understanding of the game and I think that's
very critical when you play that position," Aggies offensive
coordinator Les Koenning said. "He has the ability to be in the
right spot and that creates confidence with the quarterback."
The junior had one catch for a 31-yard score at Clemson, catches
for TDs of 15- and 32-yards in a win over SMU and a 44-yard catch
for a score against Texas State. He's averaging 30.5 yards per
catch.
He has been timed at 4.34 in the 40-yard dash. He uses that
speed to easily lose his defenders and it came in handy when he
took the snap on a fake field goal 13 yards for his other touchdown
against Texas State.
Schroeder caught eight passes for 141 yards, but didn't have any
touchdowns as a freshman. Last season, he had four catches for 135
yards and two scores.
Modest and unassuming, Schroeder said his output is "pretty
cool" and that he considers it a blessing.
As a high school quarterback, Schroeder put together an
impressive resume. In 2001 as a senior, he threw for 2,534 yards
and 28 touchdowns.
Schroeder got past Houston Madison and current Texas quarterback Vince Young in the semifinals before a Lufkin team led by Reggie McNeal beat Westlake in the Class 5A Division II Championship.
He had orally committed to play quarterback at Purdue before
changing his mind and coming to Texas A&M, where he knew he'd have
to convert to wide receiver.
Seeing McNeal's skills as a quarterback in the state title game
made him less resistant to the transition.
"When I knew I was going to come here to play receiver, it was
really exciting because I knew he was going to be the
quarterback," Schroeder said.
McNeal is happy that Schroeder's on his team now. He enjoys
watching him work.
"Anytime I throw the ball, I know he's going to make a play for
me," McNeal said. "He just runs right by them and once he gets by
them they won't catch up with him."
Schroeder will try to keep his perfect ratio intact when Texas
A&M opens Big 12 Conference play against Baylor on Saturday.