Junior Year Box Set

“I agree,” he said, slowing me up. “Let me get everyone in a room, and we can figure this out.”

We soon had Moose, Jeff, Coach Haber, and me in one of the coaches’ meeting rooms.

“When I got my stack of packets, I noticed David didn’t have one. One of the people on the TV crew told me to make him cool his heels for a few minutes. I thought it would be funny, so I went along with it until David clued me into what they were really after. I’m sorry for my part in all of this,” Moose said.

“This was what I was afraid of. David, trust me to get this fixed. I’ll get one of the local TV cameramen and send this group back to New York,” Jeff said.

“I already said I had doubts about this. Do you think you can get them to edit the video so I don’t look bad?” I asked.

“No,” Jeff admitted.

I thought Coach Haber was going to have a fit. A big smile crept onto my face.

“Why are you smiling?” Coach Haber asked.

“David now knows that he can trust Jeff to tell him the truth,” Moose explained. “You better warn those ringers you brought in that it’s game on.”

◊◊◊

In the morning, we did the usual first part of camp stuff: they measured us. I was six-four, 218 pounds, and ran the forty-yard dash in 4.56. I also knew I was stronger and more flexible than I was at this time last year. What I wasn’t in was football shape. I was better than most of the players here, but I hadn’t been running enough to have the stamina I would need in the fourth quarter of a game.

Jeff sent the Sports TV crew home and hired a local team to film. He also gave me information on the three Elite 11 quarterbacks who had come to compete against me. I found myself in the folder as well.

David Dawson was six-four, 220 pounds and ran a 4.6 forty. I was ranked as the number one quarterback and the number one overall recruit in the nation.

Dawson has ‘it.’ He is a man among boys and rises to the level of his competition, with the size, arm, and skills to play on Sunday. Dawson can make all the throws with ease. When he needs to be, he is dangerous with his legs. He has a killer instinct that will burn you if he’s forced to create. The most you can hope for is to contain him. He’s an all-around athlete who also plays baseball, and one of the best leaders we’ve seen. Dawson deserves his number one ranking, even though he hasn’t attended any football camps this summer for further evaluation.

Larry Dell was six-six, 209 pounds, and ran a 4.78 forty. He ranked as the number two quarterback and the number two overall recruit in the nation. He hadn’t committed anywhere yet.

Dell has the prototypical size, big arm, and all the intangibles you are looking for in a quarterback. He’s demonstrated his throwing ability. He can put some heat on a ball when needed and then show great touch when called for. Right now, Dell is too thin, but once he’s in a training program in college, he has the frame to carry more weight. He is a natural leader, he reads his progressions well, and he is humble. Dell has all the traits you look for in an elite signal-caller.

Jaylen Kent was six-three, 221 pounds, and ran a 4.51 forty. The scouting services ranked him as the number three quarterback and the nation’s fifth overall recruit. He had committed to the University of Maryland.