Prior to Verica’s signing, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had only two practicing quarterbacks —John Beck and undrafted rookie Ben Chappell — currently in camp. Kellen Clemens signed a free agent deal with Washington but can’t practice with the team until later this week. Under the rules imposed at the end of the NFL lockout, veteran free agents were able to sign their contracts Friday night, but they can’t take part in any sort of physical activity with their teams until next Thursday, assuming a new labor agreement is in place by then.

Verica will help keep Beck’s arm from wearing out until Clemens can practice. Shanahan also expects to re-sign Rex Grossman to compete with Beck for the starting job.

Last season Verica completed 58.8 percent of his passes while passing for 2,799 yards and 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for Virginia.

Hillsdale College senior quarterback Troy Weatherhead, who has led the Chargers to two straight NCAA Division II playoff berths, was named the Player of the Year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Wednesday.

Weatherhead is also a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given to the top player in Division II. He is one of 24 finalists for that award, which will be presented on Dec. 17 in Florence, Ala., on the eve of the Division II National Championship game.

“It’s recognition for a young man who has developed himself into one good football player,” Hillsdale coach Keith Otterbein said. “To be recognized as the top player in the conference is certainly a great honor for Troy and a well-deserved honor.

“The work ethic of a young man in his time in college determines whether or not they turn into great football players.”

Weatherhead set a GLIAC record for single-season completion percentage (.772), completing 220 out of 285 passes in the team’s 10 conference games.

He led the conference in passing yards (2,815) and average passing yards per game (255.9) while setting Hillsdale College career records for most touchdown passes (63), most completions (795) and most passing yards (9,144).

Weatherhead leads the nation in passing efficiency rating and has completed 242 of 311 passes (77.8 percent) with 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 11 games.

“You never imagine that a quarterback is going to throw for 78 percent,” Otterbein said. “It’s never been done in 119 years at Hillsdale College. It’s never been done in the GLIAC.

“If this was a Division I player, they’d be talking about it every night on ESPN. It’s pretty impressive stuff.”

Other Hillsdale players named to the all-GLIAC first team on offense were sophomore running back Joe Glendening, senior wide receiver Andre Holmes and senior offensive lineman Phil Doerfler.

Holmes led the conference in pass receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,160). He also scored nine touchdowns.

Hillsdale High School graduate Mike Blanchard, a Hillsdale College senior wide receiver, earned second-team honors, as did junior defensive back Nick Hixson.

“You look at our names of our all-conference team, and they’re all outstanding kids,” Otterbein said.

Hillsdale (9-2) opens play in the NCAA Division II tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Cloud (Minn.) State (9-2).