Interview: California 2018 QB Cameron Rising among the Best in His Class

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

All the great ones do it, and it continues to mystify coaches, friends, family, and fans alike. The really good players make any given sport look like a simple game. On the gridiron, a simple play turned to magic could be a juke move by a running back, a grass stain given by a linebacker to a ball carrier, or a quarterback dropping a pass right into the breadbasket of a receiver perfectly in stride. Nothing like a sweet play that brings people to their feet. It looks so simple that any of us could do it, but therein lies the magic.

In a small town just outside Los Angeles County’s long reach sits Newbury Park. Along the 101 west nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles, and the Pacific Ocean, Newbury Park High School stumbled upon a talent who is sure to shape the landscape and culture of the program for years to come in Cameron Rising.

Rising fits the quota, especially for a soon-to be junior, listed at 6’2”, 200 pounds. The eyeball tests matches with the productivity after the first-year starter threw for 3,213 yards with 40 touchdowns in 2015 through 11 games. Mixed in with the gaudy stats was a 60 percent completion percentage and just one interception. Listed as a pro-style, Rising could add another adjective to the adjective with swift. To help keep the chains moving, Rising added 756 yards on the ground off 79 totes with 11 more scores.

The belief system in Rising’s talents extend beyond area fans. To date 20 different programs have placed scholarship offers in front of the Panthers’ rising star. The list of hopefuls includes just about every top college football program in the nation: Oklahoma, Alabama, UCLA, TCU, LSU, Arizona State, Cal, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Washington State, Penn State, Houston, and North Carolina.

If the pressure to produce is mounting, one would not know it by talking to Rising. Cool, calm, collected and with a genuine love of the game, the No. 5 ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2018 recruiting class (247Sports) seems as poised off the field as he does in the pocket.

In a Recruiting News Guru stylized interview, I caught up with Rising before the start of the Panthers’ fall camp to get an overview on his 2014 season, off-season workouts, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Cameron, last year was your first year at the varsity level right?

“Yes sir.”

Did you have any idea that you would be the starting quarterback going into the season or that you would have the kind of season that you had?

“I had an idea after a certain point that I might start. We had about five quarterbacks and then three transferred. I had been working at it and grinding all the time to prepare for the opportunity. I had spent as much time as I could on getting ready. I expected that, but the type of season I had, I did not expect that. It was a crazy and unbelievable season. Last year was one year I will never forget.”

You had to learn so much on the fly as the starting varsity quarterback against top California talent. Where were some of the things you learned quickly last year?

“I’d say my adjustment to the speed of the game. I am always watching film so I know what they (the defense) will do and what they want to do. I’ve learned to know their personnel.”

What are some of your strengths on the field as a quarterback?

“I’d like to say my leadership. I’m a vocal leader and I lead by example. Another thing, I’m always there. I’m constantly there. If you are not there constantly it messes up the team chemistry. I’m always trying to be perfect with the team.”

What are some of the things you do well mechanically as a quarterback?

“I have a quick trigger. I’ve worked on getting the ball out fast and being able to throw at different arm angles.”

What have you been working on during the off-season?

“Improving my football IQ. I’ve been working on getting faster, stronger, and adding more velocity to my ball. Stuff like that.”

What are your personal or team goals for the 2016 football season?

“Personal goals – I don’t have that many. I mainly just have team goals. At the end of the day it does not matter what I do but how the team does. Not just from a winning standpoint but going out there and competing as hard as you can. You can’t go half-speed. You have to go as hard as you can. Once you start doing that stuff winning will be second nature.”

Did you go to any college camps this summer?

“I went to Alabama and a 7v7 camp tournament at LSU.”

How did the camp go for you with Alabama?

“It went pretty good. They had some good receivers there. The receivers there were fast. I had to adjust to them.”

What about the LSU camp, how did that go?

“That camp went well. I was with one of LSU’s 2017 quarterback commitments (Lowell Narcisse). Lowell and I were on the same team. We won the championship. That was fun. That was a great experience.”

Did you take any unofficial visits this summer?

“I went to LSU, Alabama, Houston, TCU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. Those are the main ones I saw over the summer.”

How was your visit with TCU?

“It went awesome. I loved the coaching staff. My dad actually played for Coach (Gary) Patrerson at Cal Lutheran. I loved Coach (Sonny) Cumbie (co-offensive coordinator/quarterback coach). He is awesome. All the people there are great.”

What about your visit to Oklahoma?

“It was awesome. I absolutely loved it. I‘ve always liked Coach (Lincoln) Riley (quarterback coach/offensive coordinator). I did not get to meet Coach (Bob) Stoops (head coach) face to face. He was an ESPN event. We did Facetime. That was pretty cool. I loved it there – it was awesome.”

Do you have any visits coming up?

“No, not until the season. Nothing is completely set yet.”

How many offers do you have right now?

“I have 20 offers.”

Of the teams that have offered you, which ones are maybe pushing a little bit harder than the others?

“The two you just asked me about – TCU and Oklahoma.”

Are there any teams recruiting you but have not offered yet?

“There have not been that many reaching out who haven’t offered. Maybe Tennessee a little bit. Besides that, there is no one else really.”

The trend for junior quarterbacks is to commit early. With 20 offers do you think you will commit early?

“I think it’ll come soon – very-very soon.”

When you do a pro-con list about a given school, what are some of the things that influence you about a program?

“I look to see if I could I live in that area for the rest of my life. I do want to stay close to the college I attend after I have graduated. The school’s academics have to be solid. Another big thing for me is football of course. I want a school that can prepare me for where I want to go and win while I’m doing it.”

I’m picking up what you’re laying down.

(Laughs)

Let’s switch over to the Panthers. Shane Sipes, your top target from last year has graduated. Which players will be some of your top targets this year?

“We have a few guys. I don’t like to focus on just one guy. We have guys like Andrew Noble, Chris Brooks, and Travis Valenzuela. We have all kinds of guys. Everyone playing will get the ball. I could keep going with Mateen Johnson and Marques Evans. We have a lot of receivers.”

How does Newbury Park look for the 2016 season?

“I think we will be a very solid team. We have some good linemen that are coming back. They are doing some good stuff. Our O-line coach is amazing. Our wide receivers and running backs are looking great. Chris Brooks in the backfield is looking great.”

Are there any games on the schedule you are excited to play this year?

“All of them.  I’d say every single game. There is not a game I want to play more than the other. I just want to be on the field to be honest.”

You have some great teams on the schedule like Calabasas and Oaks Christian. There’s not one game you are a little more excited to play than the others?

“Not really. I look at every game the same. I want to win every game. Some say certain games are bigger than others but every game is big to me.”

I get it and I like it. If you are even keeled about each game you don’t get too nervous for any of them or place too much importance on one over the other.

“Exactly.”

What do the Panthers need to do to have a big season this year?

“We need to play as a unit. When we break from a team huddle we say, ‘We are – One.’ We need to keep that mentality.”

Cameron, I appreciate your time today and good luck with the upcoming season.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: sportsrants.com; No. 7 Cameron Rising eludes a defender.

Photo credit: acorncapture.com; No. 7 Cameron Rising scores a touchdown.

Photo credit: vcstar.com; No. 7 Cameron Rising drops back to pass.