Former Virginia quarterback was advised to transfer to Oregon State

After a week of speculation and paperwork, former Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich transferred to Oregon State and joined the football team on Monday.

He enrolled, went through new student orientation and watched the team’s practice. Lalich will sit out the rest of this season due to NCAA transfer rules, and have at least three years to play two seasons starting at the beginning of the 2009 season.

A petition to the NCAA was sent by Lalich requesting this be his redshirt season since he played in only two games, arguing it’s similar to a medical hardship. That would give him three years to play three seasons, but no decision is expect on the appeal for some time.

“It’s a nice thing that worked out,” coach Mike Riley said. “We did it after as much evaluation as we could do in this timeframe. This is a good addition at the right time for our team. And it’s up to him to prove he is the right guy, on and off the field.”

Lalich is a 6-foot-5, 235-pound pro-style quarterback. He fits into OSU’s system, will compete for playing time next season and at least gives the Beavers depth.

There will be a returning senior starter in Lyle Moevao, a senior backup in Sean Canfield, redshirt freshman Ryan Katz, walk-on reserves Justin Engstrom, Brennan Sim and Zach Anderson and incoming recruits Cody Vaz and Dax Dilbeck.

“We won’t even talk about that,” Riley said of his future playing time. “The answer is always open competition. But what I’m thinking is it strengthens our quarterback position. If we don’t have him, we have two seniors and a redshirt freshman next year. Now we have the void in the intermediate range.”

The Springfield, Va., native came to OSU after being dismissed from Virginia after the start of the season, his second with the Cavaliers.

He was cited for underage drinking in July and was put on one-year probation. He then broke the terms of the probation with a second offense.

Auburn, UCLA and Cincinnati were other schools Lalich considered. Virginia coach Al Groh, however, recommended him to Riley.

The coaches know each other from meeting during Nike events in the offseason.

“I talked with many people about him,” Riley said. “The thought I have about it, after visiting with these people, I thought he’s a guy who needs another opportunity. And with my relationship with coach Groh, I felt really good about the process.”

Lalich went to Groh with a list of quarter system schools that started class Monday so he can restart his academic year over, and begin sitting out his athletic year. Virginia is on the semester system that began class Aug. 2.

Groh only circled OSU. So Lalich and his mother jumped on a plane and made a surprise visit Sept. 22.

Riley only found out they were coming with a phone call when they were in transit.

“Coach Groh picked it out for me,” Lalich said. “He said the town was perfect, and he really trusted coach Riley to take care of me like he did.”

He will not be on scholarship this term because there are none available. As seniors graduate after the fall and winter terms he’ll receive one, Riley said.

Lalich was impressed with the team, the stadium and the coaches he met in his short trip. He wanted to attend OSU for a fresh start, but Riley had to do more research.

“He left and I didn’t commit to him, but I took as much time as I could and I felt good about it,” Riley said. “I did not recruit him. It was all about him fitting into our team. I didn’t want to do anything that would compromise what we are doing. You are never 100 percent sure, but I have a good sense about what this guy can accomplish on and off the field.”

Lalich started two games this season, against Southern California and Richmond. He passed for 359 yards and two touchdowns.

He completed 35 of 61 passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in eight appearances as a true freshman.

Lalich was highly recruited out of West Springfield High where he passed for 3,134 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior. He was SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American, among others. He passed for 2,671 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior.

Rivals.com and Scout.com rated him as a four-star athlete out of high school. Rivals ranked him as the No. 5 quarterback in the 2007 recruiting class, and Scout ranked him 17th.

“I just want to play and be on the field again,” Lalich said. “I just want to earn the respect of everyone, and show I’m just one of the guys. I’m not coming in to take anyone’s job. I just want to play and be part of the team.”