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Monday, November 10, 2008
HQ
Houston, TX
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Houston is Becoming the headquarters for signal-callers by the dozens
Space City. Bayou City. Clutch City. Those are just a few of the nicknames that the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan has acquired over the years. But a new one that is popular only in local football circles is Q-ouston. In reference, of course, to the large quantity of quarterbacks from Houston who rank up there with some of the best on the collegiate level.
The Houston area has produced close to 40 Division I quarterbacks in the past six years. Today, everywhere you turn a local product can be spotted. Baytown Lee’s Brian Johnson has the Utah Ute’s in contention for a BCS bowl. Jarrett Lee from Brenham is splitting snaps for LSU. Former Humble Wildcat Jarrod Johnson has taken over the starting position for Texas A&M. North Shore alum and Oklahoma St.-transfer Bobbie Reid is trying to lead Texas Southern to a SWAC title. Katy products Andy Dalton and Bo Levi Mitchell are both starting at TCU and SMU respectively, while Stratford stud Andrew Luck is the next big thing at Stanford.
Baytown Lee head coach and local quarterback guru Dick Olin has the most impressive resume when it comes to grooming signal-callers. Coach Olin has had seven quarterbacks go on to the next level, including Clint Stoerner (Arkansas), Jermaine Alford (Baylor), Ell Roberson (Kansas St.), Drew Tate (Iowa), Brian Johnson (Utah), Jeremy Moses (SFA), and most recently Josh Jones, who is enrolled at Army.
“I believe why Houston is so successful in producing these quarterbacks is because of how many good programs there are,” said Olin. “Players these days are afforded every opportunity to succeed. From the great coaching to the facilities to the off-season programs, these kids are at quite an advantage.”
Besides teams holding their own off-season training program, the UIL has an annual seven-on-seven state tournament. Seven-on-seven is just a basic pass offense, with no offensive linemen included, against a defense with no defensive linemen. This allows quarterbacks to get much more comfortable with their receivers and backs, and the receivers and backs to work on their routes and catching.
Coach Olin’s Ganders won the state tournament a few years back. “Seven-on-seven gives you a lot of different looks. You see every sort of coverage you can imagine. It also gives these kids a chance to build chemistry amongst themselves. Every time they throw and catch they’re getting better,” said Olin.
As good as past classes have been, the class of 2009 may be the best, led by Cy-Ridge’s Russell Shepard. Shepard, the top dual-treat quarterback in the nation according to Rivals, is committed to LSU. He has taken the city by storm much like Vince Young did in 2001. Although it is much too early to compare Shepard to Young, who is a living legend on the University of Texas campus, the both possess the same skill set with Shepard possibly being a better passer at this point.
Cody Green of Dayton has pledged to become a Nebraska Cornhusker for next year while Friendswood’s Jacob Karam will be displaying his skills at Texas Tech. Hightower Hurricane A.J. Highsmith will be heading to Miami at year’s end, although he most likely will change positions.
The most interesting story may be Andy McCloud of The Woodlands. McCloud was on junior varsity at this time last year, but is currently leading the Highlanders to a district championship. Because he was on junior varsity, there wasn’t any legitimate footage for recruiters to look at and evaluate accordingly. So, in the summer McCloud hit the camp circuit hard and was impressive enough to garner numerous offers. He will be headed west, playing for Mike Price at UTEP.
Cy-Falls’ Kolby Gray also has a plethora of offers, but has yet to pull the trigger on where he wants to go. He currently holds offers from the likes of Vanderbilt, Boise St. and Rice among many others. Cy-Woods’ Lucas DeVilliers has shown enough to scouts to be offered by Army, although more are likely to come before national signing day in February. Kenny Guiton of Eisenhower, too, is letting the recruiting process play out. Guiton is considering Rice, Houston, Iowa St. and Kansas. Throw in the likes of Langham Creek’s Will Bryant, Lamar Consolidated’s D.J. Smallwood, Cy Creek’s Austin Pugliese, Madison’s Broderick Thomas, Tomball’s Chris Tarhini and Nimitz’s Zerrick Rollins and this city is busting at the seams.
While the 2008 season comes to a close, next season will continue the trend.
Second Baptist’s Connor Wood, Sharpstown’s Sam Carter and Westfield’s Jacoby Walker are next season’s headliners and are already being heavily recruited.
“He’s the best I’ve ever coached,” coach Mike Sneed said of Wood. “He’s got all the tools and could be the top prospect in the city. He’s really that good.”
The future is bright in Q-ouston and only looks to get brighter. Success only breeds more success, and that is the case for a lot of teams in Houston.•
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