Quarterback Spotlight: Senior Year for Alum Brings a New Opportunity

Posted on May 15, 2012 by rjohnston

For this spotlight (the 5th in the series), Complete QB interviewed Luke Primerano, the anticipated starting Quarterback at Wayne Valley HS in Wayne, NJ. Despite his years playing the sport and the effort he has given to improving as a Quarterback, he has few stats at the position as he has not played it much. Now, as Luke enters his senior year, he has finally earned the starting spot as a Quarterback in his high school career.

We thank Luke for his participation in this interview.

What made you decide to become a Quarterback? How long have you been playing the position?
I’ve played Quarterback for a couple years when I played at Wayne PAL and Boys Club. The main reason I began playing Quarterback is because our Quarterback transferred to another school my freshman year and I decided to step up and fill the spot since I had some experience in the past. I haven’t had much experience at all in high school since I suffered an injury my freshman year and played WR last year on varsity.

You never started as a Varsity Quarterback. What challenges will you face as a first time starter during your senior year?
I only got a couple snaps at Quarterback last year since I was our starting receiver. There will definitely be some challenges. It is always good for a Quarterback to have some experience. I will definitely face problems such as taking time to get comfortable in the pocket and being able to read defenses since I haven’t done it in the past, but I think they are all things that I can fix and work on throughout the year.

Last year you played at wide receiver. How do you think this is will help you as the Quarterback next season?
Having experience at the wide receiver position can help me a lot next year at Quarterback. It learned a lot about corner and safety tendencies as I faced them throughout the year. It will also allow me to be able to identify what my receivers see and get on the same page as them.

What advice would you give to younger athletes who want to play Quarterback, but are asked to play another position?
I would just tell them to take everything as a learning experience. Every position can help you learn a lot about defenses and what you can run against them. Playing another position can make them a better player at the Quarterback position because they have had experience at the other positions.

Talk about your training and off-season preparation. How are you preparing now to be a better QB in 2012?
I am definitely going to have to work very hard this off-season in order to get the results I want next year. I have a lot I have to work on and I have been trying to better myself by going to Coach Johnston’s group throwing training, individual training and working hard in the weight room. Coach Johnston has helped me with not only my throwing and footwork but also with the mental part of the game.

It is our understanding that you used to experience elbow pain while throwing, but it is no longer an issue. What changes did you make that alleviated that elbow pain?
I experienced elbow pain in the past and I have been able to alleviate that pain due to Coach Johnston’s training and adjustments to my throw. He has been working on getting me to throw more with my body rather than just my arm and has been getting my arm in a better position to throw. Both of those things were reasons which caused that pain and he has definitely helped to alleviate it.

What are your strengths as a Quarterback? Where do you still need improvement?
One of my biggest strengths as a Quarterback is my ability to throw and also having the athletic ability to make plays with my feet. I have a lot to work on such as reading defenses and making the right decisions both of which are a product of my lack of experience.

What do you believe is the most important thing needed to be a great Quarterback?
I think a Quarterback obviously needs to be the most athletic player on the field but most importantly they have to be mentally prepared. They have to know their opponent but also know that they are going to make mistakes. The best kind of Quarterback is the kind that shows tremendous leadership when things aren’t going right and can put the interceptions and bad decisions behind them and move on.

Luke Primerano will be entering his senior year at Wayne Valley HS this fall. It will be the first time that he starts as a Quarterback during his high school career. Having receieved some looks as a receiver, Luke is hopeful that this one year opportunity at Quarterback will allow him to continue on to a collegiate career playing football.

Luke is a prime example of an athlete who took the opportunities afforded to him while striving to be more. Being a Quarterback is not an easy thing. It takes a lot of determination and often a lot of patience. Sometimes it takes the ability to see beyond the opportunities that are right in front of you – because they may not always be the opportunity you want. Take every chance you are given to get better. It worked for Luke and we look forward to seeing how he does this season.

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Real Camps: Who is coaching your Quarterback Camp?

Posted on May 8, 2012 by rjohnston

The Real Camp Difference is a series which focuses on the factors that parents, coaches and Quarterbacks should be looking for when choosing which Camp to attend. Camp organizations offer a lot to potential Campers, but the real question is: what will your Quarterback walk away from that Camp having learned that will truly help him improve as an athlete and a Quarterback?

This is the second blog of this series, and will focus on franchise Camps – the ones with different directors and coaches at every location. It brings to mind the question:  How do you know what you are getting if the same people aren’t providing it?

The franchise Camp is not an uncommon phenomenon – and if Camps were fast food restaurants it would work as a plan. Let me start by explaining how this happens. A Camp organization needs to increase revenue. The best way to do so is to hold more Camps. Holding more Camps generally means adding Camp locations. This is where things can become difficult. Multiple Camps in multiple locations can be a difficult thing to manage with one person running the show. It limits Camps to being in one location at a time because obviously no person can be in two places at once. The solution – send someone else to run that Camp.

Although for many Camp organizations, this is not seen as a negative, it does present a conundrum that I believe should be recognized. How do Campers know that they are getting the same level of training with the person that was trained to run the other Camp? It’s like a photocopy, it may look great, but it will never look as good at the original. You sign up for a Camp because of the experience that it represents in the brochure or on the website. BUT if there are always different people running the Camps, how can you be sure that your experience will be what they promised? There is something to be said for consistency, which can only be accomplished if there is some factor that is consistent at every Camp. Without that, you run the risk of getting a different (and possibly worse) experience than the same named Camp at another location.

Some Camp organizations participate in a “Certification” process, meaning they train and certify Coaches to work at their varying Camp locations. This certification is supposed to assure you that the Coach you get is indeed qualified and able to provide the Camp experience you were promised. I cannot say this more clearly: you can train and certify anyone you want, that does not mean they are going to do things the way you do them. Additionally, what happens when this “certified” Coach encounters a Quarterback with a learning curve or problem that is not covered in their training? The response will be different per Coach, and it may not be what is best for that athlete.

In the end a franchised Camp will always run the risk of falling short of expectations because no matter how much training or certifications a Coach gets, they can never be the person who had the vision that designed the Camp. Unfortunately, that leaves a margin of error that you may not want to risk. Before you sign your Quarterback up for Camp this summer, it might be worth asking: Who is going to Coach my Quarterback at this Camp? If one of the people listed is not the person whose name is behind the Camp, you should wonder how they can assure you that your Quarterback’s Camp experience with them is going to be what it claims it will be.

Every Complete QB Quarterback Development Camp is run by Camp Founder and Director, Chris Johnston. His presence allows us to assure each Camper, Parent and Coach that you will get the same 2-day Camp experience, despite any difference in location. His experience and ability as a Coach can help any Quarterback – who is willing to do the work – to get better. If your Quarterback wants to spend two days working on every aspect of the position, learning about himself as a Quarterback and an athlete, as well as the ways he can improve for the upcoming season, join us. Click here to register online today.

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Real Camps: To be “elite” or not to be

Posted on April 2, 2012 by rjohnston

The Real Camp Difference is a new series focusing on the factors that parents, coaches and Quarterbacks should be looking for when choosing which Camp to attend. Camp organizations offer a lot to potential Campers, but the real question is: what will your Quarterback walk away from that Camp having learned that will truly help him improve as an athlete and a Quarterback?

For the first blog of this series I am going to focus on “elite” and “invite only” Camps. I have heard some interesting stories about these Camps from parents and I wonder… What’s the point?

The term “elite” means the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons –from: www.dictionary.com.  So when a Camp boasts to be “elite,” you should be asking these questions:

  1. What exactly about the camp is elite? The Camp? The Coaches? The Quarterbacks?
  2. Who termed it as “elite”? A marketing person? The director or founder? Some outside objective party?

Let’s consider the three major areas of a Quarterback Camp that the term “elite” can be applied to:

The Camp:
The term “elite” itself is too vague to quantify as far as the Camp experience goes. There are too many factors to consider, such as: camper to coach ratio, drills, method of teaching, topics taught – just to name a few. So I’ll just say this, there is no such thing as an “elite” Camp. Don’t waste time looking for an “elite” camp, instead find one that will allow your Quarterback to learn, have fun, improve and get more than you paid for.

The Coaches:
I find many “elite” coaches are termed as such because of their experience playing the position, and I do not agree with this reasoning. I personally know of Hall of Fame Quarterbacks – who (self-admittedly) could not teach someone to play the position. I think the best Coaches are those who know how to teach the position to any type of athlete, and this may not mean a resume filled with time playing in state championships, D1 programs or the NFL. However for a truly “elite” coach, it will include a proven effort to understand the position and the details which require focus as well as a continued effort to learn and grow as a coach. Over an “elite” coach who may have a history of playing but no real, sustained, or significant team environment coaching, make sure the camp has knowledgeable coaches who can actually teach the position.

The Quarterbacks:
Many Camps that cater only to the “elite” Quarterback are simply seeking status through athletes, who frankly, would have found success without attending their Camp. I’ve said it before and will say it again: Quarterbacks who succeed at the highest levels do so for reasons mostly related to physical make-up, natural talent and athleticism. If a Camp only seeks to work with Quarterbacks who are already clearly on the road to a successful career – you will never know if they are helping create successful Quarterbacks or creating camp alumni from athletes that were going to be successful anyway.

Finally, about “invite only” camps – when you get a “special invite” to attend a camp, you should first wonder how many others got that same invite. Better yet, call the camp and ask them how many of those letters were mailed. I bet you won’t feel so special after you learn the truth, if you can. Then carefully read and determine how much this “special invitation” is going to cost your family, because the cost for these camps can be outrageous. After you understand the cost, go back and reread my theories on the “elite” camp, because I guarantee that word is being thrown around somewhere in the letter or on the website. Then decide if you want to spend the amount of money this invitation is going to cost you, when there is a strong possibility you won’t get close to what you pay for.

Remember, a camp is supposed to be where your Quarterback goes to learn about himself and the position he is attempting to improve at playing. If the camp you are looking at for your Quarterback is “elite” or “invite only” you should really be asking, “Who is going to get better for my Quarterback’s attendance, my Quarterback or the camp?” If you don’t know the answer based on the information you have, you should keep looking.

Complete QB Quarterback Development Camps are for every Quarterback, from the beginner who has never played to the Quarterback who has won state titles and broken state records. From the Quarterback who is fighting for a starting position to the D1 scholarship signee. We have had every type of Quarterback attend, and some have grown from one end of the spectrum to the other while training with us. Our goal is simple, to help any Quarterback – who is willing to do the work – get better. If your Quarterback wants to spend two days working on every aspect of the position, learning about himself as a Quarterback and an athlete, as well as the ways he can improve for the upcoming season, join us. Click here to register online today.

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Complete QB Alumnus is state’s youngest Head Coach

Posted on March 9, 2012 by rservice

Dave Morse is the Head Coach at Sharon (MA) HS and a multi-year Complete QB Camp Alumnus. He was named the head coach at Sharon at the age of 24 in March 2011, and immediately put in place a program for a turnaround. Sharon won only 1 game in 2010, but posted a 3-game turnaround in Coach Morse’s first season, finishing 4-6 in 2011. Coach Morse is a 2005 graduate of Norwood (MA) HS, where he played Quarterback. Complete QB is proud of Coach’s accomplishments and wishes him much future success!

Coach Morse took a few moments to speak with us this week:

What have been your coaching positions thus far in your career?

DM: I have served as a scout, JV coach, quarterbacks coach, defensive backs coach, varsity offensive coordinator, and lastly, head coach.

What has been your greatest challenge in becoming a head coach at such a young age and so early in your career?

DM: This biggest challenge for me has been trying to learn as much football as possible. I am not where I would like to be, but I am working to try to get there some day.

Do you feel there are any advantages to being a young head coach?

DM: I feel as though I have a good pulse on the kids. I also have the time and energy to commit to the kids in season and out of season, as well as being committed to our youth program.

As a former high school Quarterback yourself, what is your opinion on the greatest “in-game” challenges facing HS QBs?

DM: The greatest in-game challenge facing HS Quarterbacks is that defenses are so fast and seem to become more elaborate each week. The constant week to week changes seem to make it hard for kids to become comfortable in preparation.

How did Complete QB help you in your development as a player?

DM: It helped me as a player in slowing down everything I did and focusing on small details. Because of the attention to details and coaching, I was able to develop a self-correcting knowledge that allowed me to correct my mistakes quickly.

What are your long-term goals in the game of football?

DM: My long term goal is to win and win regularly. I would love to develop Sharon into a winning program that takes nothing for granted and makes no excuses. I also want every student/athlete to leave as a better person for playing football at Sharon High.

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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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