Super Conferences, preseason polls and new logos aside, Pac-10 Quarterbacks were all the buzz this off season as players, coaches and scouts were left drooling over the possibility of snatching one of these west coast stand outs in the 2011 or 2012 NFL Draft. With big names and big schools like USC's Matt Barkely, Arizona's Nick Foles, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Cal's Kevin Riley looking to shoulder the load this season, you can't help but think the future of the Pac-10 and NFL looks bright for these experience gun slingers out West. But all things aside one cannot over look the youngsters taking the reigns at a number of schools including OSU's Ryan Katz, Oregon's Darren Thomas and Arizona State transfer Steven Threet entering year one under center. With all the hype and hoopla surround the position this season, the future looks as bright as ever in this pass heavy, offensive minded conference.
But I know what your saying, "What about Jake Locker?" The Washington native and former Frendale High School star was anything short of spectacular coming out of high school. In 2005, he led Ferndale High School to a 14-0 record and a state title, throwing for 1,603 yards and 25 touchdown passes for the season with only 3 interceptions. Locker was an excellent running quarterback as well, as he also rushed for 1,339 yards and 24 touchdowns during his senior year. He was also named the 3A state player of the year by the AP and Seattle Times, and earned First-team All-state honors from both organizations.
Deciding to stay in the Northwest and content on bring the Washington Huskies out of the abyss, Locker signed with the Dawgs and set his sites on becoming the next great Seattle area Quarterback. Highly touted and with a pedigree to match, Locker helped Ferndale to a No. 7 ranking in USA Today's final West Region rankings, and a No. 12 ranking in MaxPreps.com's final national rankings. He was one of four Seattle Times "Blue Chip" recruits, ranked No. 5 nationally at QB, and No. 1 in the West, by PrepStar. Locker also ranked 85th in Scout.com's National "Hot 100" and ranked 68th overall and fourth among "dual-threat" quarterbacks in Rivals.com's national rankings.
Quite the resume for an 18 year old with tremendous upside and strength. Standing at 6-3, 235 with a 4.5 40-yard dash he was a coaches dream. The ultimate duel threat quarterback that had a cannon of an arm and speed that kept defense coordinators up at night. Having won the 2007 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Award many people within the conference were lead to believe that he was the second coming, the savior that the Huskies and Puget Sound fan base had waited so long and patiently for.
Flash forward to 2010 and as the projected 1st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Locker has the eyes of nation upon him and the stage is set for a breakout season, or is it? Having turned down his opportunity to enter the draft last season, Locker decided to forgo last years NFL Draft and return to Washington for his senior season, his second under new head coach Steven Sarkisian. With a handful of highly touted but young recruits surrounding Locker, the task of making a run at the conference title looked daunting at best.
Three weeks into the season and the Husky faithful is at yet another crossroads. Sitting at 1-2, Locker has the Huskies fighting once again for position to stay in hunt. Having lost its opening road game to BYU, and again last week at home to #8 Nebraska 56-21 in what could only be considered a drumming by the boys from Lincoln, Locker's team has fallen behind the eight ball again having only mustered one win against a depleted Syracuse squad at home two weeks ago. Ranking 69th in the nation in passing yards (209.7 ypg) and 72nd in points scored (26.3 ppg), the high octane offense has been held in check thus far this season. With decent stats to start the season: 46/90, 626 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT, Lockers numbers are not quiet what you would expect after three games from a potential Heisman Trophy Candidate and 1st overall pick.
With plenty of season left and a handful of marque match ups on the schedule (The first on Oct. 2nd vs. USC) Locker will definitely have his hands full throughout the course of the 2010 season. If Locker truly is the big man on campus we all like to believe that he is, he has a lot of ground to make up in the next few weeks if he hopes to lead the Huskies out of obscurity and into the national focus. I'd like to think that the season is still young, but slow and steady in college football does not always win the race. As followers of the greatest game on turf, all we can do is wait and see how the fairytale will end for this once destined star.
*For highlights of last weeks game versus #8 Nebraska click in the title of this article
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday Morning Quarterback: Locker falling behind the Pac
Super Conferences, preseason polls and new logos aside, Pac-10 Quarterbacks were all the buzz this off season as players, coaches and scouts were left drooling over the possibility of snatching one of these west coast stand outs in the 2011 or 2012 NFL Draft. With big names and big schools like USC's Matt Barkely, Arizona's Nick Foles, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Cal's Kevin Riley looking to shoulder the load this season, you can't help but think the future of the Pac-10 and NFL looks bright for these experience gun slingers out West. But all things aside one cannot over look the youngsters taking the reigns at a number of schools including OSU's Ryan Katz, Oregon's Darren Thomas and Arizona State transfer Steven Threet entering year one under center. With all the hype and hoopla surround the position this season, the future looks as bright as ever in this pass heavy, offensive minded conference.
But I know what your saying, "What about Jake Locker?" The Washington native and former Frendale High School star was anything short of spectacular coming out of high school. In 2005, he led Ferndale High School to a 14-0 record and a state title, throwing for 1,603 yards and 25 touchdown passes for the season with only 3 interceptions. Locker was an excellent running quarterback as well, as he also rushed for 1,339 yards and 24 touchdowns during his senior year. He was also named the 3A state player of the year by the AP and Seattle Times, and earned First-team All-state honors from both organizations.
Deciding to stay in the Northwest and content on bring the Washington Huskies out of the abyss, Locker signed with the Dawgs and set his sites on becoming the next great Seattle area Quarterback. Highly touted and with a pedigree to match, Locker helped Ferndale to a No. 7 ranking in USA Today's final West Region rankings, and a No. 12 ranking in MaxPreps.com's final national rankings. He was one of four Seattle Times "Blue Chip" recruits, ranked No. 5 nationally at QB, and No. 1 in the West, by PrepStar. Locker also ranked 85th in Scout.com's National "Hot 100" and ranked 68th overall and fourth among "dual-threat" quarterbacks in Rivals.com's national rankings.
Quite the resume for an 18 year old with tremendous upside and strength. Standing at 6-3, 235 with a 4.5 40-yard dash he was a coaches dream. The ultimate duel threat quarterback that had a cannon of an arm and speed that kept defense coordinators up at night. Having won the 2007 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Award many people within the conference were lead to believe that he was the second coming, the savior that the Huskies and Puget Sound fan base had waited so long and patiently for.
Flash forward to 2010 and as the projected 1st overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Locker has the eyes of nation upon him and the stage is set for a breakout season, or is it? Having turned down his opportunity to enter the draft last season, Locker decided to forgo last years NFL Draft and return to Washington for his senior season, his second under new head coach Steven Sarkisian. With a handful of highly touted but young recruits surrounding Locker, the task of making a run at the conference title looked daunting at best.
Three weeks into the season and the Husky faithful is at yet another crossroads. Sitting at 1-2, Locker has the Huskies fighting once again for position to stay in hunt. Having lost its opening road game to BYU, and again last week at home to #8 Nebraska 56-21 in what could only be considered a drumming by the boys from Lincoln, Locker's team has fallen behind the eight ball again having only mustered one win against a depleted Syracuse squad at home two weeks ago. Ranking 69th in the nation in passing yards (209.7 ypg) and 72nd in points scored (26.3 ppg), the high octane offense has been held in check thus far this season. With decent stats to start the season: 46/90, 626 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT, Lockers numbers are not quiet what you would expect after three games from a potential Heisman Trophy Candidate and 1st overall pick.
With plenty of season left and a handful of marque match ups on the schedule (The first on Oct. 2nd vs. USC) Locker will definitely have his hands full throughout the course of the 2010 season. If Locker truly is the big man on campus we all like to believe that he is, he has a lot of ground to make up in the next few weeks if he hopes to lead the Huskies out of obscurity and into the national focus. I'd like to think that the season is still young, but slow and steady in college football does not always win the race. As followers of the greatest game on turf, all we can do is wait and see how the fairytale will end for this once destined star.
*For highlights of last weeks game versus #8 Nebraska click in the title of this article
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