Quarterback Spotlight: Youth QB gives it his all

Posted on February 20, 2012 by rservice

For this spotlight, Complete QB interviewed Connor Curry, 7th Grade Quarterback at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a multi-year Camp participant, we have witnessed first hand the level of dedication this young man puts into improving at the Quarterback position and we believe it earned this spotlight.

What motivates you to want to play the Quarterback position?
My teammates and God are my constant motivation.  I thank God’s motivation because he motivates me to become the best so that I will be in a position to witness to people about Him. I want to serve God through what I enjoy most, and that is playing football. Tim Tebow is a perfect example of what I want to be like when I am older.  Everyday I am doing either footwork drills, lifting weights, studying playbooks and different coverages, watching game film, or doing something to better myself and my team.

Which NFL Quarterback (if any) do you most admire? Why?
Tim Tebow, because most importantly he is a wonderful man of God, but I also love his drive to get better when people tell him he cannot do something. He uses the negativity to motivate himself and I see him as a great leader for a football team.

You began focusing on mechanics and training at a young age, which is a contrast to many Quarterbacks. Why did you choose to make sound mechanics and Quarterback fundamentals your focus?
Now that I am in middle school, I am VERY thankful for being introduced to mechanics and training at a very early age.  I believe perfect mechanics are an important key to playing the position.  When the mechanics are there everything else seems to come to place. With the proper repetition that I have been taught at Complete QB, sound mechanics have become natural to me.  Being successful at proper mechanics has placed me ahead of other quarterbacks.  It has also allowed me to focus on other things such as understanding the defense and grasping a better understanding of the game.

You are a multi-year Camper with Complete QB, what makes you continue to choose our Camps every year?
I love how Complete QB teaches the mechanics of throwing the ball and the focus of the QB position. At Camp, mechanics are taught in a way where it is broken down and explained why we do the things we do, and what changes would make me better at what I am trying to do.  Complete QB has taught me drills that are productive and I can use so when I come home, I can continue to work at it. They also help me understand more about defenses and different coverages.  I have benefited tons from the camp and I will continue to come.

How do you prepare for Quarterback play, the position itself and game preparation?
Before all games I love to study over every play and formation, I like to see where my first reads will be on a certain play and in a certain situation. I believe preparing mentally is the best thing to do.   

You attend a school with a nationally recognized football team. What kind of pressure does that create for you as a middle school Quarterback?
The pressure is that many great QB’s have gone through my school including my head football coach.  Evangel is steep in tradition with many great players playing at the college and professional level.  This makes me thrive to be the best that I can be and to continue to lead my team with the utmost leadership that I can possibly provide.

How did it feel to play in the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl?
It was a very great humbling experience; it was an honor for me to be selected for it. It showed me all the talent there is out there and it has motivated me tons to become the best. I hope to be back there next year and compete even harder than I did this year.

You had a very successful season, over 2,000 all-purpose yards, 29 passing and 11 rushing TDs. What would you like to improve for next season?
Everything, there is never such a thing as being too good. My goal, for every year, is to double my stats from the previous season. It is a goal that I have set for myself and I will be working very hard to accomplish it.

Connor, as a sixth grader, started at QB on the 7th grade team in 2010. This past season (2011), he threw for 1,376 yards and 29 touchdowns. Connor was also invited to play at the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in January.

Mechanics are important for all Quarterbacks, on every level, and throwing motion – for most – is built upon muscle memory. This means, if you do not work to throw with the proper mechanics, you will throw the way you have always thrown. That is why it is important for young Quarterbacks to learn proper technique early on, before a poor throwing motion becomes a part of your permanent routine.

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Quarterback Spotlight: A prepared Quarterback is always ready…

Posted on February 1, 2012 by rservice

For this spotlight, Complete QB interviewed Bobby Brown (not the singer), Quarterback for Northern Highlands HS in Allendale, NJ. As our longest running Camp Alum, we wanted to take the time to find out more about this young man and how he prepares year long for the role of “the Quarterback.”

What made you decide you wanted to play the Quarterback position?
When I was playing pee-wee football, the coach threw me the ball and said, “Go play Quarterback.” I just always liked it. I like the feeling of standing over my center and staring the other team in the eyes. This may sound weird, but it feels like you’re the pilot of a fighter jet and everybody is depending on you to take out the other team.

You transferred schools last year from a pretty popular program. How did you go about making that decision?
Some people thought I left my first school for a chance to play varsity, but that wasn’t it. I would have been the varsity QB at some point, no doubt in my mind. I also would have played a lot of other positions. I really liked all of my teammates and the coaches. I left because I wanted access to stuff that my first school doesn’t have and my new school does, like music and CAD drawing – which is my best class. Scott Brunner’s son is my CAD teacher – he played QB for the Giants. I didn’t know him but it’s still cool. When I got there I was the 4th string QB because I had no clue on their offense – they ran a veer. It took me a while, but I got it. I started on defense right away and I started at QB for the last 5 games. My new teammates and coaches are great. They work hard and have a ton of spirit.

What do you feel is your strength as a Quarterback? Where do you need to improve?
I know I have a strong arm. I have good speed and I handle the ball well. I didn’t fumble all year.  I think for a Quarterback I’m very strong because I really like the weight room. I need to work on my footwork and my throwing accuracy.

Walk us through your in-season preparation. How do you get ready for the upcoming game?
We watch a lot of film of our opponents. My coach is a maniac when it comes to film. We watch film together, which is good and really cool. At first, I used to not care about film. I realize now, if you watch and talk about what you see, when you get in the game and you see somebody move on D you know what they are going to do. Coach says I will be able to check off plays a lot more this year, which I love to do. We run O against the scout team all week in practice. The rest is just getting everybody psyched for the game. My team wants to win so bad by the time Thursday comes we are pumped. Guys are walking down the hall just staring at each other like we know something nobody else does, and we got work to do.

How important is off-season training for Quarterbacks? What does your off-season training include?
I think everybody has to keep working all year round, but the QB has extra things to do. I lift with my team 3 days a week. We also do team speed training 2 nights a week and I lift again on Saturdays. I throw way too early in the mornings, but now I’m going to Fairfield with Coach Johnston to throw at night. That will be fun. I also watch film with my coach.

This will be the 8th year that you attend a Complete QB Camp. What makes you continue to attend our Camps?
My dad brought me there when I was really young and it was fun.  I like to be around other Quarterbacks. Then it just became something I always looked forward to every summer. When I was in junior football, it was like the unofficial beginning of the season for me because our practices started about a week after QB camp. Now that I’m one of the older guys, it gets me ready for the season. I also like to see how I compare to the other guys at Camp.

You also work individually with Coach Johnston, what do you feel you gain from individual training?
Last winter and summer we did get together with Coach Johnston for individual sessions, that was fun and sometimes there were other QB’s there which was good too. I like to do individual sessions with coach because I just forget some things. He gets all over me but it is way before the season, so we laugh about it and he fixes me.  We work on form, footwork, drop back and other stuff. I over rotate sometimes which is not good for accuracy, we work on that a lot. At the end, he always tells me when you have 2 monsters coming at you just get it done. I like that.    

If you could put it on one thing, what would you say is the most important thing a Quarterback needs to do or have to be successful?
Well, we all have to prepare physically, but if I had to pick one thing that was most important for the QB to have – I would say confidence. If the QB is a wus then his team is dead meat.  I don’t care how fast he is or how good his arm is. If he’s afraid his teammates will know it and so will everybody else.

Bobby Brown is currently a sophomore at Northern Highlands. After transferring late last summer, Bobby found himself playing defense with what seemed to be a slim shot at QB. With 5 games left, Bobby got on field as the QB and started for the remainder of the season. Having played only four and a half games at QB, Bobby threw for 740 yards and 5TDs, and rushed for another 534 and 5 TDs.

Preparation is something mentioned at every opportunity where Quarterback play is discussed. Whether off-season, in-season or for a specific game, the most prepared QB is often the one who finds the most success. As a QB, watching film, throwing regularly, weight training and a long list of other things are all required as part of that preparation. We applaud Bobby for working at the position the way he has and we look forward to seeing the success that results from his hard work.

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It’s not easy being ranked…

Posted on December 8, 2011 by rservice

Being the #1 and #2 ranked team, in any state, could make for a tough season. The level of expectation for the coaches and players creates pressure that can either motivate or handicap all involved. In addition to the pressure, every opponent wants to be the team that knocks off the best

Now picture this: In the state of Massachusetts, the 2011 #1 and #2 (bostonherald.com, boston.com, espnboston.com) teams both went undefeated in 2010, won their respective league, as well as state titles for their divisions, and are led by coaches who are noted as among the best in the state.

The #2 ranked team is Duxbury High School’s Dragons, led by Coach Dave Maimaron and senior Quarterback Matt O’Keefe. The Dragons pulled off an incredible season this year, outscoring their opponents 424-80. Of the 13 opponents, only 3 teams scored more than 1 touchdown and 6 were unable to score at all during the game. The Dragons have not lost a game since December, 2009 – 26 wins in a row. It was no surprise when Coach Maimaron was chosen as the New England Patriots’ HS Coach of the Year.

Last year, Matt O’Keefe was one-half of a QB tandem who together threw for 2,146 yards and scored 26 touchdowns for the season. In 2011, Matt threw for 2,456 yards and 38 touchdowns and rushed for another 700 yards and 5 touchdowns. Second only to the Quarterback from the #1 ranked team, Matt was a finalist for the Gatorade Player of the Year and ESPN Boston’s “Mr. Football” Award.

The #1 ranked team is Everett High School’s Crimson Tide, led by Coach John DiBiaso and his son, senior Quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso. Everett outscored their opponents 537-163 this season, averaging 41.3 points per game. Everett has also won 26 games in a row, last losing in December, 2009. The Crimson Tide has remained in the top spot of ESPN Boston’s MIAA Top 25 poll since Week 6 of the 2010 season.

Last year, Jonathan DiBiaso threw 43 touchdown passes, setting a new state record. In 2011, Jonathan broke his own record, throwing 44 touchdown passes and while doing so, broke the all-time touchdown pass state record – which was 85. The new record is 103. Jonathan on the season threw for 2,775 yards and rushed for another 427 yards and 6 touchdowns. In addition to setting records, Jonathan was named the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as receiving ESPN Boston’s “Mr. Football” Award.

So I guess it’s not easy being ranked, unless you’re a Duxbury Dragon or part of the Everett Crimson Tide.

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Quarterbacks, Do You Know Your Acronyms?

Posted on November 17, 2011 by rservice

And I don’t mean QB, WR or DB…

This is the third blog of a series that provides information about college admissions, recruitment and eligibility. Complete QB provides a 40 minute session on this topic at every Quarterback Development Camp.

In the previous blog in this series, “Quarterbacks, What’s On Your Schedule?” we discussed the importance of having a solid course history as a means of showing your ability as a student. This blog will cover something we briefly discussed in that blog: advanced courses. I mentioned Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and I want to provide you with more detailed information.

Both AP and IB courses prepare students for college. They are college level courses students can complete during high school. The courses are tough, requiring a lot of reading, writing and a high level of self-discipline on the part of the student. Additionally, in order to complete the required material for the class, the course moves at a fast pace, so students have a lot of work outside the class.

There is a great deal of debate and comparison between the AP and IB programs, with parents and students trying to determine which is “better” for the student. Here are a few of the major similarities and differences between the AP and IB programs. AP is a CollegeBoard (yes, the SAT people) program. There are currently 34 AP courses/exams available through CollegeBoard, but that number may not be reflected in the course offerings at your school. IB is an international program, set up to allow students internationally to meet a set standard for advanced education. There are over 50 IB courses available. However, it is typical for schools to have only 12-15 available to students.

The IB program offers an actual diploma that represents completion of the program to any student who meets the requirements. The CollegeBoard offers an International Diploma, called the APID, but it is only available to students outside of the United States (US) or students enrolled in high schools within the US who plan to attend college outside of the US.

Both programs are available at schools all over the country and internationally. However, schools have to apply to be “IB World Schools,” whereas AP schools (although monitored by the CollegeBoard) do not have to be approved prior to providing AP courses to students. Courses for both programs are available in every core area, as well as in non-core (aka elective) curriculum, including Foreign Languages. Finally, both programs require you pass an exam for whichever AP or IB course taken in order for the course to be considered successfully completed.

So, what is the big deal about AP and IB courses? Well the most important thing is you can get college credit (yes, actual college credit) by successfully completing an AP or IB course. This means a passing grade for the AP or IB exam which accompanies the course. Just a note worth mentioning, you can take an AP exam without having completed the course – although I would not suggest that for the majority of students. You cannot take an IB exam without having completed the accompanying IB course. The completion of the IB course is required in order to take the IB exam.

The exams for both programs are 90-180 minutes long and are made up of multiple choice and essay questions, math exams also include short answer questions. AP exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with a score of 3 or higher as passing. IB exams are scored on a scale of 1-45, with a score of 24 or higher as passing. Keep in mind that a “passing” score will not automatically translate to credit at every college or university. You should take the time to research what scores will qualify for actual college credit at the school you plan (or want) to attend. Upon acceptance into your college or university, you will provide an official score sheet to the school. This will provide documentation of the AP or IB exams successfully completed and the school, in turn, will apply credit for the equivalent college course.

Now that you have some understanding of what this whole AP and IB thing is about, you might be thinking, “What does this have to do with me? I’m a football player!” Well, you are not just a football player, you are also a student, and if you are a student-athlete interested in an Ivy League or one of the more selective colleges or universities, AP and IB courses will be extremely important. Having this level of an advanced course on your transcript shows college admissions staff that you are actually prepared for the academic challenge of college courses. For schools that are more exclusive, not having these courses on your transcript can mean you will not qualify for acceptance, and therefore cannot qualify for athletic recruitment – no matter how talented you are.

The completion of advanced courses is important to admissions staff for a number of reasons. Proper academic preparation means you will continue to have academic success on the post-secondary level. That academic success leads to a high retention rate for students as well as a higher percentage of students who complete graduation requirements within four years. You have to remember that as a college student, you represent the academic success of that college or university. If they accept students who are not academically prepared to succeed on their campus, the retention and graduation rate will be negatively affected, as will the reputation of the college or university.

So what now? First, you need to know what type of school you are attending. Very few schools offer both AP and IB courses, so you need to determine what type of advanced courses you can access. If your school is an IB World School, you MUST take the time to review the requirements of the IB Diploma as there are additional requirements beyond just completing the rigorous courses and passing the exams. For AP schools, the commitment is to the actual class and not the total program, so your job will be to determine which AP courses are available. Pick courses that are of interest to you, in subjects that you have had some success in previously. I always suggest honors, or Pre-IB, courses for younger (9th and 10th grade) students, as these will likely prepare you for success in AP or IB courses later in high school.

Remember, these courses take dedication, self-discipline and time. I urge you not to sign up for an AP or IB course unless you are ready to accept the responsibility of that course. Also, although a high number of advanced classes look great on paper, keep in mind the added workload for multiple advanced classes at once. It will not be easy, so take what you can handle. Taking one or two advanced classes and doing well in one or two is a much better plan than taking three or four and doing poorly in all of them because it was too much. Also, remember your school’s situation will always be taken into account when reviewing your application for admission. If your school’s AP program is limited, meaning your school offers a small selection of or no AP courses, not enrolling (or enrolling in a small number) of AP classes will not be held against you. IB World Schools have to meet a requirement as far as offerings, so those of you in an IB World School will not have this as an excuse.

For more information on the AP program, visit CollegeBoard’s AP Central website.

For more information on the IB program, visit: www.ibo.org.

Renee Service is the Director of Operations for Complete QB. Prior to her position with Complete QB, Renee worked as a high school counselor in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Fairfax, VA. In her 10 years as a high school counselor, she worked with hundreds of college-bound athletes. You can contact Renee directly with questions at renee@completeqb.com.

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Quarterback Alumni Weekly Updates – November 14

Posted on November 14, 2011 by rservice

Weekly Updates for November 12 and 13

As we head into the playoff season for the majority of states, we will take a brief hiatus after this week. We will return in early December with an overall playoff update for our Camp Alumni who competed in the post season.

Kyle Bolin, Jr – Lexington Catholic HS – Lexington, KY

Kyle threw for 216 yards and a TD in the Lexington Catholic 44-7  State Quarterfinal win over Mercer County.

Isaiah Diaz-Mays, Jr – Union City HS – Union City, NJ

Isaiah led his Union City (NJ) HS team to 20-3 quarterfinal victory over Roxbury HS in the NJSIAA Group 4 playoffs.

Jonathan DiBiaso, Sr. – Everett HS – Everett, MA

Jonathan threw for 232 yards and 4 TDs adding 97 rushing yards and another TD, in the Crimson Tide’s 42-20 win over Malden. Jonathan is now at 97 career touchdown passes. With the win, the undefeated Everett clinched their 17th straight Greater Boston League title.

Matt O’Keefe, Sr – Duxbury HS – Duxbury, MA

In the Dragons’ 34-7 league-clinching win over Hingham, Matt passed for 248 yards and 4 TDs. He also added 95 rushing yards and a 5th TD. Duxbury continues their undefeated season.

Michael Walsh, Sr. – Swampscott HS – Swampscott, MA

In the Big Blue’s 33-15 win over Gloucester, Michael passed for 251 yards and4 TDs, and rushed for an additional 63 yards. On the season, the Brown commit has over 2,900 total yards of offense.

Dante Warren, Sr – University of South Dakota – Arlington Heights, IL

Warren had his best performances of the season during the USD Coyote Senior Game going 17 of 22 for a season-high 288 yards and 3 TDs. He also rushed for 58 yards and 1 TD during the 48-14 win over Missouri S&T.

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Quarterback Spotlight – JC Quarterback Plays on, Despite Challenges

Posted on November 8, 2011 by rservice

For this spotlight (the 2nd in the series), Complete QB interviewed Lamar McKnight, Quarterback for Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA. Lamar’s desire to play Division I football has taken him on a path less traveled, and even less discussed. After discovering he would be academically ineligible, Lamar attended a post-grad military academy and is currently enrolled at a junior college.

We thank Lamar for his willingness to discuss not only where he is now, but how he got there.

During your days playing youth football with Jersey City Recreation, you were noted as a natural athlete. Did you always want to play Quarterback?
Yes, I’ve always wanted to be a Quarterback. When I was younger, I was always the guy who just threw the ball when we would play pick-up games in the parking lot of where my home in NJ is right now. At the same time, I was able to still play other positions throughout my football career, like Safety, WR, and kicker.

While you were in high school, did you at any time believe your athletic ability would outweigh your academic performance for college coaches?
To be honest, Yes… It was one of those situations where I was the star of the school. I figured my playing basketball and football would get me by, which caught up with me after a while.

As you approached the end of your junior year, did anyone talk to you about your grades and the difficulties they could cause with regard to your recruitment for football? If so, who and what advice did they give you?
All of my coaches would always tell me how my grades weren’t going to do the job on me getting an offer from a division 1 university. They were just being real. That goes back to when I figured just playing sports and getting decent grades were good enough.

You were being recruited by some big Division I programs, including: Oregon, Auburn, Clemson, Maryland, Rutgers, and West Virginia to name a few. When did you realize you were not going to be academically eligible to play?
I realized it when I was on a visit to Appalachian State. They asked for my official transcript and told me I had to score above an 860 on 2 parts of the SAT because my grades were too low. When I took the SAT a month later, I scored at 840. Fell 20 points short.

After you discovered you were academically ineligible, what type of reactions did you receive (if any) from the coaches that were previously recruiting you?
EVERY coach was still highly interested, but at the same time told me the truth. There’s nothing they could do with me because of my scores and if I ever become qualified, we could possibly try things again. I thought they did a great job of not just giving up on me.

Moving toward graduation, did you have a full plan as to how you were going to achieve your dreams of playing Division I football? If so, were you able to follow that plan?
Oh yes, no doubt. As soon as I found out I wasn’t going to qualify right away, I started to look deep into Junior College programs and tried to find the best fit for me. Yes, I was able to follow this plan because I put myself in a great situation with some great coaches that are on me about my grades more than my performance. My GPA has improved from a 1.9 to a 2.6, and now it is a 3.1.

You played for Oak Ridge Military Academy for one year and you are currently playing at Contra Costa College – and will remain there for another year. How has playing for these programs changed you as a student and an athlete?
It’s been great, especially being able to get a taste of the Military Academy. That program helped me to get all of the talking back to coaches and having discipline problems out of my system, quickly! Being in California has by far been the BEST decision I ever made. I always knew the further I was from NJ, the better. So all in all, it’s been a great journey from the start… I have absolutely no regrets about any of the decisions I’ve made.

If you had it all to do all over again, what would you change? How would you do things differently?
Honestly, I wouldn’t want to do it all over again. For the simple fact, everything happens for a reason. If you have a passion for something, you’ll never stop trying until there’s nothing else you can do. Some people get the straight ride to their dreams and the others have to take rights and lefts. I happen to be one of them, which I have no problem with because patience is the key, and everyone gets their turn. It’s what you do with that turn when you’re called upon. I have faith and great support, and now I’m just waiting on my turn…

Can you give some advice to current freshmen or sophomore Quarterbacks who are athletically talented, but may not be on the right academic track?
Just keep going, pushing, and grinding. Take care of everything now, so 2 years down the road you’ll be able to pursue your dreams early. It’s not something you can just wake up and do, you have to prepare yourself for the next few years. Waiting for the last minute is not a great decision. Stay in the books, have respect for everyone, and just choose the right crowd. Try to surround yourself with people who are chasing their dreams just like you are!

What about a junior or a senior Quarterback who has realized they will not meet the requirements for NCAA eligibility? What is your advice for them?
If you’re young enough, try a prep school. Like Hargrave, Fork Union, etc… If not, junior college is like an extra 2 years of high school just a bit faster and more talent because there’s athletes like you, who didn’t qualify right away. This will make you better, smarter, and more mature so you’re ready WHEN you transfer to a four-year university as a junior. You’ll be just like all the other juniors on the team…

Tell us about your current plan, what are the next steps for you both academically and for football? To you have a final goal in mind for either or both?
My next steps are to finally transfer to a four-year university at any level. I have a lot to prove, a lot of people behind me that I refuse to let down. I’m majoring in English right now for my AA degree, which will be switched over to sports management or criminal justice once I get into a university. I would love to be a professional athlete, which is what I’m aiming for. But, that’s never promised. That’s why my biggest goal is to get a degree in a major field like criminal justice. I just want to make my family proud, keep them smiling, and have them feel as if they don’t ever need to depend on anyone. Taking care of my family has been a life time goal for me as well…

Lamar McKnight is a freshman Quarterback at Contra Costra College. Contra Costra is a member of the California Community College Athletic Association and currently is 5-2 for the season. As a freshman, Lamar is patiently waiting his turn for the full-time starting spot, in hopes of continuing on to the Division I QB job that eluded him his senior year.

The Quarterback position is one of prestige and requires the ability to lead by example. Although preferred, that example may not always be the expected one. Leaders must also be able admit to their mistakes and show how to rebound from them, and at times provide an example of what not to do. Although Lamar’s path is not the one often highlighted, we respect his courage and determination. His decision to continue to pursue his dreams despite obstacles, admittedly of his own making, is admirable. We applaud Lamar for being a true leader by example and hope other Quarterbacks can learn from him. We wish Lamar all the best at Contra Costa and look forward to seeing where his path will lead him.

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Quarterback Alumni Weekly Updates – November 7

Posted on November 7, 2011 by rservice

Weekly Updates for November 4 and 5

Vincent Aranda, Fr – Monsignor Farrell HS (JV) – Staten Island, NY

Vincent, the starting JV Quarterback went 12 for 15 for a total of 251 yards and 3 TDs in the AAA playoff win over Iona Prep.

Kyle Bolin, Jr – Lexington Catholic HS – Lexington, KY

Kyle led Camp Host Lexington Catholic to a 76-18 win over Clay County in the first round of the Kentucky Class 4A playoffs. Kyle now has 23 TDs and 2,298 yards, in the air, for the season.

Jonathan DiBiaso, Sr – Everett HS – Everett, MA

Jonathan brought his career touchdown pass total to 93 in the Everett 48-12 win over Somerville. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 326 yards and 5 TDs. Everett is still undefeated for the season.

Matt O’Keefe, Sr. – Duxbury HS – Duxbury, MA

During the Dragons’ 49-0 win over Hanover, Matt completed 21 of 28 passes for 251 yards and 6 TDs. This was his best game performance thus far this season. Duxbury is still undefeated for the season.

Michael Walsh, Sr. – Swampscott – Swampscott, MA

Michael had a total of 240 all-purpose yards, scoring all 3 of the Big Blue’s TDs in their 21-13 win over CAL/NEC rival Beverly.

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Quarterback Alumni Weekly Updates – October 31

Posted on October 31, 2011 by rservice

Weekly Updates for October 28 and 29, 2011

Bobby Brown, So – Northern Highlands HS – Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ

In his first start for the Highlands, Bobby threw for 220 yards and 1 TD. Bobby also rushed for 132 yards and another TD in the 31-14 win over Indian Hills.

Nick Casale, Sr – Tamarac HS – Troy, NY

Nick had an outstanding offensive showing in the 61-21 Tamarac win over Greenwich (NY). Nick went 13 of 16 for 189 yards and 2 TDs, then added another 218 yards and 6 TDs rushing!

Daniel Davidson, Jr – Trinity Christian Academy – Carrollton, TX

Daniel completed 27 of 39 passes for 241 yards and 1 TD and rushed for 60 yards and 2 TDs in the 38-21 TCA win over Liberty Christian .

Jonathan DiBiaso, Sr – Everett HS – Everett, MA

Jonathan threw for 6 TDs in the 41-14 win over Medford. During the first half of the game, he broke the state all-time record (85). Jonathan completed 9 of 12 passes for 209 yards, and now has 88 career touchdown passes.

Matt O’Keefe, Sr. – Duxbury HS – Duxbury, MA

In the Green Dragons’ 34-7 win over Silver Lake, the Johns Hopkins lacrosse commit was 16 of 25 passing for 210 yards and 3 TDs.

Michael Walsh, Sr – Swampscott HS – Swampscott, MA

In the Big Blue’s 47-14 win over Danvers, Michael was 12 of 20 passing for 245 yards and 4 TDs. He also carried 10 times for 68 yards and 2TDs. And… from his safety spot on defense, Michael recorded 3 tackles and an INT .

Dante Warren , Sr – University of South Dakota – Arlington Heights, IL

Warren threw 11 of 16 for 183 yards and 2 TDs in the Coyotes 27-24 loss to Cal Poly.

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Quarterbacks, What’s on Your Schedule?

Posted on October 26, 2011 by rservice

And I don’t mean your game schedule…

This is the second blog in a series that will provide information about college admissions, recruitment and eligibility. Complete QB provides a 40 minute session on this topic at every Quarterback Development Camp.

In the previous blog, “Quarterbacks, What is Your Average?” we discussed the importance of having a solid GPA no matter what your post high school aspirations may be. This blog will cover the next most important factor that is considered with regard to college admissions – your course history. Course history refers to the courses you complete throughout high school. More specifically, it is your transcript of courses with which a lot can be discerned about you as a student.

I’ll start by discussing core classes. The term “core” refers to the classes that are basic curricula for all students. These are courses that fall into the subject areas of mathematics, English or language arts, physical science and the social sciences (also known as history). In some states, core curricula can also include Health and Physical Education (PE) but that will vary as graduation requirements regarding this subject differ around the nation.

Admissions will be looking for the type of core class you completed. Did you take the regular course that is required for graduation, or did you take the advanced – commonly known as the Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) version? Admissions personnel will actually count how many of your core classes fell in the regular vs. the advanced type when considering your application. With regard to mathematics, they will not only look at the advanced vs. regular course, but they will also consider how high a level above Algebra 1 you completed in high school. Most states only require that high school students complete 3 levels of mathematics, to include Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2. So admissions will check to see if you stopped at Algebra 2 or if you continued on to Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or any of the AP and IB mathematics courses available.

Regarding elective courses, or non-core curricula like Foreign Language, Fine Arts, Business, Technology, etc., these can be equally important – depending on where you want to attend or what you plan to study. Some schools will not consider you if you have not completed at least 3 years of a foreign language in high school. If you are looking at a school for something like architecture, you will have to have a completed portfolio as part of your application. This is pretty difficult to accomplish if you have not taken some type of Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) class during high school. It is a good idea to consider what you want to do when you pick your elective courses. Take courses that can help you gain some experience or knowledge in a field related to your chosen career or major.

The review of your course history is the method used to determine the level of work you are capable of completing successfully. The more difficult your courses are and the more they reflect an academic focus, the more prepared you appear to be to admissions staff. For Quarterbacks who intend to play college football, it is going to be important that your course history reflect the courses that meet the admissions requirements. This will, like your GPA, enhance your chances to attend the school of your choice. It is also a lot easier for a coach to recruit (and find scholarship funds) for a student who would get into the school without the added influence of athletic talent.

For student-athletes who are pursuing Division I or II athletics recruitment opportunities, or those of you currently being recruited, remember the NCAA has strict requirements regarding course history for eligibility. This makes course history of equal importance for you. Be mindful, the course requirements differ between Division I and Division II, so you will need to make sure you are on track to complete what is required for the level of play you are pursuing. Additionally, for those of you who are not currently juniors or seniors (and the few sophomores who will complete their before the rules change), those differences are no longer valid after August 1, 2013. After that date, both Division I and II will require the same number of core courses for eligibility.

So what now? If you didn’t talk to your counselor after you read the last blog, go now and get a full transcript. Review your course history and ask yourself what type of student you look like on paper. For seniors, visit the admissions pages of the schools you are interested in and compare what you have taken to the course requirements for incoming freshmen. For juniors – who have been walking the path of necessity (meaning you take only what you need to, no more) – it is not too late to prove you can handle an advanced class. Admissions will review, in addition to your completed courses, your senior course schedule. Underclassmen, you can take this time to plan ahead. You should have a four year plan devised that lays out exactly what courses you intend to take towards graduation and if you hadn’t planned on challenging yourself, you should reconsider.

A final note of caution, taking the advanced academic course should not be taken lightly. You know what type of student you are and this should be something you keep in mind. As a counselor, I was known to push my kids to take the advanced course, but I knew which kids to push. Taking an advanced course and not doing well because you are not prepared or disciplined enough to handle to rigorous workload will not help you with regard to admissions, or recruitment. Be smart about your options, take the courses that you have an interest in and for which you are willing to do the level of work required.

For more information about NCAA eligibility, visit the NCAA Eligibility website at: www.eligibilitycenter.org.

Click here to access the NCAA Division I and II academic eligibility worksheets.

Renee Service is the Director of Operations for Complete QB. Prior to her position with Complete QB, Renee worked as a high school counselor in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Fairfax, VA. In her 10 years as a high school counselor, she worked with hundreds of college-bound athletes. You can contact Renee directly with questions at renee@completeqb.com.

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Quarterback Alumni Weekly Updates – October 24

Posted on October 24, 2011 by rservice

Weekly Updates for October 21 and 22, 2011

Kyle Bolin, Jr – Lexington Catholic HS – Lexington, KY

Kyle Bolin, who recently verbally committed to the University of Louisville, surpassed 2,000 yards in the air on Friday. Passing for 2 TDs against Marion County, Kyle has thrown for a total of 2,139 yards and 22 TDs and run for another 5 TDs. Complete QB Camp Host Site, Lexington Catholic is 8-1 so far this season.

Mike Brophy, Sr and John Brebbia, Jr – Pearl River HS – Pearl River, NY

The QB tandum has lead their team to a 7-1 regular season record and #2 rank in Section 1, Class A. John currently has a 65% pass completion rate and Mike has rushed for 389 yards and 3 TDS. The pair has scored 8 TDs total and head to a playoff quarterfinal this week.

Jonathon DiBiaso, Sr – Everett HS – Everett, MA

Jonathon continues to lead his Crimson Tide through an undefeated season, now 7-0. Jonathon passed for 252 yards and 1 TD and rushed for another 2 TDs in the last matchup against BC HS. Jonathon is now 3 TDs away from breaking the all-time TD passing record for Massachusetts.

Kevin Hennessy, Sr – St. Mary’s HS – St. Louis, MO

Kevin is currently a top scorer in the state of Missouri. In addition to his 557 yards and 12 TDs on the ground and 3 passing TDs, Kevin is the St. Mary’s kicker. The St. Mary’s Dragons are now 7-2.

Matt O’Keefe, Sr – Duxbury HS – Duxbury, MA

Matt and the Duxbury Dragons continue their winning streak, beating N Quincy 40-7 and are now 7-0 for the season. Matt put up 2 TDs on 3 of 4 passes for 87 yards and ran for another TD. The senior has a 66% pass completion rate, passing for 1,292 yards and 17 TDs and rushing for another 379 yards and 4 TDs.

Andy Oliver, So – Oakville HS – St. Louis, MO

Andy was 11 of 15 for 165 yards and 2 TDs against Northwest, who prevented their playoff berth last season. Andy has passed for 1,184 yards and 11 TDs so far this season. The Oakville Tigers play in the first round of playoffs later this week.

Giles Thompson, So – St. Christopher’s School – Richmond, VA

Giles has led his team to a 7-1 season, the Saints came back from being down 12-0 at the half to a 13-12 win. Giles passed for 2 TDs in the win.

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