Gilroy has had several high-profile visitors in the past two
weeks, and it wasn’t for garlic.
College coaches from BYU, Washington, Nevada, Weber State,
Hawaii and Utah have all paid visits to the Gilroy High campus to
speak with head football coach Rich Hammond about junior
quarterback Jamie Jensen, as well as sit-in on passing sessions
operating out of Gilroy’s Sports P.E. classes.
Gilroy has had several high-profile visitors in the past two weeks, and it wasn’t for garlic.
College coaches from BYU, Washington, Nevada, Weber State, Hawaii and Utah have all paid visits to the Gilroy High campus to speak with head football coach Rich Hammond about junior quarterback Jamie Jensen, as well as sit-in on passing sessions operating out of Gilroy’s Sports P.E. classes.
While NCAA rules don’t allow prospects to have contact with these coaches during this time in the recruitment process, Jensen was confident he performed well in Wednesday’s workout in front of Washington and Nevada.
“I finished off all right (in front of Nevada), not as strong as the first,” workout in front of Washington, Jensen said.
Hammond was in agreement.
“He threw great when Washington was here,” Hammond said. “He was throwing darts.”
After working with a private instructor throughout the offseason, Jensen has added noticeable velocity to his throws – a difference of almost 10 yards on his deep ball – by refining his mechanics. Well, it’s noticeable to just about everyone except Jensen.
“I personally don’t see it, but other people do,” Jensen said before adding, “I guess I can throw it further than before.”
Hammond said of the college coaches and recruiting coordinators he has met with about Jensen, none seem more interested than BYU and Nevada. Washington could also be included in that group, however, as head coach Tyrone Willingham came to the GHS campus in the winter to meet with Hammond about the junior signal caller.
While the attention being paid to Jensen – who helped lead Gilroy to its first ever Central Coast Section Championship game appearance in 2007 and finished the season with 4,323 passing yards and 41 touchdowns – will only grow as next season nears, the quarterback might not be the only player getting noticed. Orchestrating a spread-option passing attack that relies on getting athletes into space, other players will have a chance to raise the eyebrows of scouts.
“It does open up opportunities for other kids because coaches will watch our games and our game films and might see some other people, too,” Hammond said.
Gilroy will be starting spring football practices May 19. The team will also be attending passing camps around the Bay Area throughout the summer. Jensen could significantly boost his profile with a strong showing at the EA Sports Elite 11 Regional Quarterback Camp being held Friday, May 16 at the Cal-Berkeley campus from 4-6 p.m. If Jensen impresses, he could then receive an invitation to the Elite 11 four-day camp being held in Southern California July 21-24.
According to an article on the rivals.com Web-site, “The final 12 high school quarterbacks for the event are selected by the Student Sports staff after thorough tape evaluation, a telephone interview and an in-person workout at a Student Sports event, whether it be a NIKE Football Training Camp or an EA SPORTS Elite 11 QB Regional Camp.”
Past participants include a laundry list of Heisman Trophy winners and current NFL quarterbacks.
