No D-I QBs in Utah This Year?
Former Tribune sports writer Patrick Kinahan and Ch. 2 sportscaster David James had me on their radio show this morning to talk about tonight's prep football openers.
After making a prediction that Skyline's state-record consecutive-games scoring streak was in jeopardy tonight (I borrowed that suggestion from Tribune prep football guru Andrew Aragon, by the way) when it plays host to defending 5-A champion Bingham, I was asked a question that threw me for a bit of a loop.
DJ and PK wanted to know if there are any Division-I caliber prep quarterbacks in Utah this year.
I couldn't think of one. In fact, I had trouble coming up with the names of more than a couple quarterbacks who have any shot at all of moving to the next level.
I weakly tossed out the name of Timpview's quarterback, Quin Mecham, although it is doubtful that Mecham will receive much recruiting attention. I saw the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Mecham play three of four times last year, and I was impressed with his athleticism and running ability.
But he was perhaps the most impatient QB I have ever seen, continually tucking the ball under his arm and running before his receivers had a chance to get open. Maybe he worked on that in the offseason and will stay in the pocket a little more this year.
The name I forgot to tell the radio guys was Rhen Richard. If you have heard of him, you are probably a high school rodeo fan.
Richard, a senior at medium-size Union High in Roosevelt, was the all-around cowboy national champion at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, Ill., in July. College recruiters tell me he's a pretty good quarterback, too, although I have never seen him play.
Richard, 6-1, 185 pounds, has already received an offer from Snow College. He might be the best prep quarterback in the state this year.
However, at a football talent combine at Judge Memorial High last May, Richard reportedly started with the quarterbacks, but was asked by some scouts to work out at wide receiver. He was just as impressive at that position.
Suffice it to say, BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and Utah's Kyle Whittingham will keep an eye on Union's games this fall, perhaps for the first time ever.
Some of the other prep quarterbacks in Utah that could make some noise on the recruiting front are Snow Canyon's Kurt Henderson, Mountain Crest's Riley Crosbie and Jordan's Chaun Cook -- because the Beetdiggers will throw the ball a lot with all-state receiver Cody Raymond back.
Speaking of Jordan, I thought its 2006 quarterback, Sean Taylor, was one of the better prep QBs in the country last year. I was surprised he didn't get more big-school offers. He signed with Southern Utah, and don't be surprised if he doesn't make a big impact there.
Among the state's junior class, scouts say Logan's Jeff Manning, 6-foot-5, has the size and skills to do something special.
LOOKING TO CALIFORNIA
While BYU and Utah have yet to make any scholarship offers to a Utah prep quarterback -- if they do, it will probably be to Union's Richard -- both schools are still waiting on Kevin Prince, an LDS quarterback from Crespi Carmelite High in southern California.
Prince told the Web site dawgman.com on Thursday that he originally wanted to commit before the start of his senior season. But that's on Aug. 31, and now he thinks he wants to wait a few games into the season before he decides.
Most recruiting experts say his choice will either be Washington or UCLA. The Bruins finally offered him last week, and some were surprised when he didn't commit on the spot. He has said he would like to go on an LDS Church mission before enrolling.
BYU QB SITUATION
I played in a charity golf event with BYU quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman in June, and he told me the Cougars would like to sign one quarterback a year.
They have 19 commitments already for 2008, but none of those players are quarterbacks.
Among the QBs they are looking at, along with Prince and Richard, are Gerald Hill of Curtis High in Tacoma, Jonathan Mader of Cibola High in Albuquerque and Richard Ragland of Venice High in Los Angeles. They've extended no offers, however.
After making a prediction that Skyline's state-record consecutive-games scoring streak was in jeopardy tonight (I borrowed that suggestion from Tribune prep football guru Andrew Aragon, by the way) when it plays host to defending 5-A champion Bingham, I was asked a question that threw me for a bit of a loop.
DJ and PK wanted to know if there are any Division-I caliber prep quarterbacks in Utah this year.
I couldn't think of one. In fact, I had trouble coming up with the names of more than a couple quarterbacks who have any shot at all of moving to the next level.
I weakly tossed out the name of Timpview's quarterback, Quin Mecham, although it is doubtful that Mecham will receive much recruiting attention. I saw the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Mecham play three of four times last year, and I was impressed with his athleticism and running ability.
But he was perhaps the most impatient QB I have ever seen, continually tucking the ball under his arm and running before his receivers had a chance to get open. Maybe he worked on that in the offseason and will stay in the pocket a little more this year.
The name I forgot to tell the radio guys was Rhen Richard. If you have heard of him, you are probably a high school rodeo fan.
Richard, a senior at medium-size Union High in Roosevelt, was the all-around cowboy national champion at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, Ill., in July. College recruiters tell me he's a pretty good quarterback, too, although I have never seen him play.
Richard, 6-1, 185 pounds, has already received an offer from Snow College. He might be the best prep quarterback in the state this year.
However, at a football talent combine at Judge Memorial High last May, Richard reportedly started with the quarterbacks, but was asked by some scouts to work out at wide receiver. He was just as impressive at that position.
Suffice it to say, BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and Utah's Kyle Whittingham will keep an eye on Union's games this fall, perhaps for the first time ever.
Some of the other prep quarterbacks in Utah that could make some noise on the recruiting front are Snow Canyon's Kurt Henderson, Mountain Crest's Riley Crosbie and Jordan's Chaun Cook -- because the Beetdiggers will throw the ball a lot with all-state receiver Cody Raymond back.
Speaking of Jordan, I thought its 2006 quarterback, Sean Taylor, was one of the better prep QBs in the country last year. I was surprised he didn't get more big-school offers. He signed with Southern Utah, and don't be surprised if he doesn't make a big impact there.
Among the state's junior class, scouts say Logan's Jeff Manning, 6-foot-5, has the size and skills to do something special.
LOOKING TO CALIFORNIA
While BYU and Utah have yet to make any scholarship offers to a Utah prep quarterback -- if they do, it will probably be to Union's Richard -- both schools are still waiting on Kevin Prince, an LDS quarterback from Crespi Carmelite High in southern California.
Prince told the Web site dawgman.com on Thursday that he originally wanted to commit before the start of his senior season. But that's on Aug. 31, and now he thinks he wants to wait a few games into the season before he decides.
Most recruiting experts say his choice will either be Washington or UCLA. The Bruins finally offered him last week, and some were surprised when he didn't commit on the spot. He has said he would like to go on an LDS Church mission before enrolling.
BYU QB SITUATION
I played in a charity golf event with BYU quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman in June, and he told me the Cougars would like to sign one quarterback a year.
They have 19 commitments already for 2008, but none of those players are quarterbacks.
Among the QBs they are looking at, along with Prince and Richard, are Gerald Hill of Curtis High in Tacoma, Jonathan Mader of Cibola High in Albuquerque and Richard Ragland of Venice High in Los Angeles. They've extended no offers, however.
1 Comments:
I believe you have overlooked the Marinko kid at PV in St. George. He was a late move-in his junior year from California and had no chance to learn the offense. I coached for the last few years at PV and had a chance to work with him. Without a doubt the kid has D1 mechanics and footwork. He's 6'2" 185 and growing. James Lark, another kid I worked with, told me after working out with Marinko he thought the kid was definitely D1 quality and had better mechanics than he did. Marinko and his receivers beat Orange Lutheran in 7 on 7 over the summer at a tournament in Vegas and Lutheran is ranked number 8 the country by Max Preps and won the California state championship last year. I also worked with the Neville kid, the Box Elder QB, when Neville was in St. George, and Marinko is light years better. I've seen a number of the 5A and 4A quarterbacks at the camps over the summer and Marinko is better developed than any I saw. I think you overlooked him.
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