Promise of the Future coming to St. John Bosco: Interview with QB Jack Alexander

Over the last 10-15 years college football has taken significant leaps and bounds forward from an athletic performance standpoint and a cerebral understanding of the game. The days of stopping a simple Wishbone, Wing-T, or even Power-I offense is long gone. Now a days defenders on the collegiate level must have a far greater understanding of their opposition other than just follow the ball and tackle.

All the pressure to change is coming from offenses nationwide with each team running a more sophisticated no-huddle, up-tempo, or spread offense. The change has filtered down from the days of Hal Mumme at Valdosta State and Kentucky to the high school level meaning even high school players are further along the spectrum from a “X’s and O’s” standpoint than collegiate players dating back to the 1990’s and even the early 2000’s.

With everyone becoming bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter, recruiting said high school players to the collegiate level has started at an earlier time than the year’s old tradition of extending offers during a recruit’s senior season. Juniors, sophomores, and even some freshmen are getting scholarship offers from colleges before their first high school prom.

One such Class of 2018 player sure to start making the radars of college recruiters is quarterback Jack Alexander.

Alexander is still a relative unknown on the national scene but is slowly building a reputation for himself on the tough proving grounds of Southern California’s gridirons. As a freshman in 2014 he threw 24 touchdown passes against just one pick with roughly 2,500 yards passing leading his team to a 7-3 record. In the new tradition of being a mobile quarterback he ran for over 250 yards with another three scores.

The 6’1”, 160 pound and growing, signal caller also works out with top 7×7 California team B2G. B2G is always filled 5 and 4-star talents who end up making their way onto the top recruiting lists eventually filling out squads at top Power 5 schools across the nation. Alexander is getting the rare opportunity to work with and against players sometimes four years his senior pushing his level of competition beyond that of the typical high school freshman… and he is more than holding his own.

Area coaches took notice prompting a change in schools for Alexander from Redondo Union High School to national powerhouse St. John Bosco. Due to California high school transfer rules, Alexander will have to sit out the first 30 days of the Braves 2015 season but once the suspended time is up the young playmaker will be ready to make his mark on the field with his new school.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Jack after a B2G practice going over his freshman season, offseason workouts, and getting ready to take the field with the Braves in 2015.

 

Jack, how did your freshman team at Redondo Union High School finish up in 2014?

“We were 7-3 last year. We won our first game and in the second game we lost to Upland by 35 points or so. I think we were 3-2 in non-conference games and 4-1 in league.”

Did you earn any individual honors?

“I was the offensive MVP for the team.”

Do they handout any All-Metro or All-City teams for freshmen?

“No.”

 

Did you play any varsity ball last year?

“No but I was called up for the playoffs, didn’t get on the field though.”

What type of offense did you manage last season?

“We ran a lot of Power-I. I ran a lot of sweeps. They would have me pass out of shotgun formation or have me rollout for deep passes.”

What were the strengths of your team last year on offense?

“We were a run heavy team with a very good running back. We had a good receiver too. We liked to through the ball deep down the field or dump it off short.”

What are your strengths on the field?

“My strengths are being able to read the defense. I’m a smart kid and I have good height. I can see over my linemen to make accurate throws. I played baseball growing up. I was a pitcher and was always accurate.

“I’m also always a positive leader. I don’t show negativity in the huddle. I think another strength of mine is being able to extend plays outside the pocket.”

After having spent a little time already at St. John Bosco in Bellflower and working with B2G during the offseason, looking back how well do you think you played last season as a freshman?

“I played pretty well. It was my second season playing quarterback. There is always room for improvement. I did not like my mechanics but I liked my decision making.”

How did the transfer to St. John Bosco come about for you?

“I had a connection with the coaches. They saw my film and then we set up a visit. I met the coaches and fell in love with the place.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“My goals are to get bigger, stronger in the offseason, and I want to put on some more weight. The coaches and the type of offense they run at St. John Bosco is great preparation for the next level. On the practice field I can tell already that my level of play is rising. We have a senior who is expected to start this year so I’m going to prepare myself to start as a junior next season.”

What is your mindset going into spring and fall practices? Where do you want to be when your suspension is over?

“The coaches promised me a chance to prove myself. After my 30 days are over I want to get on the field either at the JV or varsity level. I don’t want to sit out the whole season. I’m preparing to play once my 30 days are over.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for your sophomore season?

“Monday through Friday I train at Bosco and then I’m with B2G on Saturday and Sunday.”

Do you work with a quarterback coach on your mechanics or footwork?

“I train every once in a while with one of my old Pop Warner coaches, Coach (Ryan) Campbell. We work on footwork and mechanics. Coach (Matthew) Hatchet (B2G) helps me with my mechanics and footwork too. I got the basics down from last offseason.”

Are you going to any college or exposure camps this summer?

“I’m not sure which camps I am going to yet. My goal is to attend as many as I can, especially local camps. Next year I’ll fly outside the area to a few.”

If you had your choice of any college camps to go to for the exposure which camps would you choose?

“My goal is to play in the Pac-12, any Pac-12 school – really any school in California. Pac-12 or Mountain West, it does not matter. The camps I may attend next year depends on how my recruiting works out. I like schools down South and back East. I’m willing to attend any camp that is local. I’m not worried about going all over the country yet.”

How did playing for B2G come about for you?

“I started with B2G last year. I was just getting into football. There was a tournament down the street from my house. I went to it and spoke with the coaches. I told them I wanted to be a part of their team so I started training with them. I went to all the sessions. If you do well and show up you get put on a team and that’s what happened.”

How did you know you made the team?

“After one of the last training session of 2014 they sent out an email. That’s how I knew.”

Which B2G team do you play for?

“Team Smoke. We have four teams total. They do some of the teams by age. “Five-Star is the top team and “Crazy Quick” is the second oldest group but we all practice together.”

How has playing 7×7 ball helped you?

“It’s helped me a lot. I get to compete with the best out there. I see my game rising to their level. There are a lot of great receivers out there. We have a lot of great coaches out there as well. All of that is helping me with my knowledge of the game.”

How did your first 7×7 tournament go this year?

“I played well. I got to play against Keyshawn Johnson’s team (Team 19). We played well for our first time together. We finished the tournament 2-2. I connected well with the receivers.”

What NFL player do you model your game after?

“I like to watch Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers), Tom Brady (New England Patriots), and Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos). With college, I’m a big UCLA fan so I liked Brett Hundley. I liked Marcus Mariota (Oregon Ducks) too even though we have totally different styles. I liked how he was humble about his talent.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“As a quarterback I like the leadership role. Things change so quickly in the game. If you’re down seven, the other team could throw a pick. You get the ball back and things change. I like the unexpected aspects of the game too.”

 

It’s far too early to start anointing Jack as a future NCAA All-American or Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year winner, but one can see his raw talents beginning to bud. After all he more than tore up the competition at his level and he’s competing against some of the top defensive players in the nation regardless of age in 7×7 practices and tournaments.

Another factor to consider in young Mr. Alexander’s maturation is he is now squaring off against St. John Bosco players everyday in practice. For those unaware of St. John Bosco, in 2013 the Braves were deemed the national champions after an undefeated season. In 2014 they lost two games. The first loss was to eventual 2014 national champs Bishop Gorman 34-31, at Bishop Gorman’s house in Las Vegas and the other loss was to Corona Centennial High School 48-41 in the fourth round of the CIF Pac-5 Playoffs at Angel Stadium ending their season in the championship game.

There is still a lot of football left to be played for Jack. But knowing the amount of reps he is getting, the talent level he is playing against, and how well he handles himself on and off the field, one cannot help but to think his future is very bright on and off the gridiron.