Two years ago, it was unlikely that there was an Eagle walking NCCU’s verdant green who knew who Adrian Warren was. Now — unless you’ve been under a rock for the past two months — you know who he is.

Quarterback Warren is known not only for his passing yards, but for his rushing yards as well.

“I like being here at Central. It’s a lot better being close to home,” said Warren.

The Raleigh native transferred from West Virginia University in the spring of 2001 to begin his career as an Eagle later that fall.

Since then, Warren has been training to excel at his position. He has given the word “quarterback” a new meaning. Warren — who appears to pass and rush with ease — has built for himself the role of a field general.

“Aside from playing free safety my freshman year in high school, I’ve played the quarterback position all my life,” he said.

“I need to play more to get in the groove. It’s difficult to be away from the game a while and come back to it.”

Warren said he still has a lot of work to do as far as reading defenses. He said he needs to take care of the ball more.

Technique plays a major role in the sport of football and there is a certain technique that has become all too familiar with NCCU this year.

Warren addressed the good and bad of the no-huddle strategy. “I like the no-huddle strategy,” he said. “It takes the defense off guard. The only drawback is the mental errors behind it.”

Unlike most athletes, Warren doesn’t necessarily have a pre-game ritual. He would rather spend time with his teammates.

“We just chill out and watch some football on television,” said Warren.

Warren said he is a hard worker and he tries to balance school and football.

“I do well,” he said. “But I actually have a light load this semester.I basically have two classes a day and that makes it a lot easier.”