CONFIDENT QB RECRUIT
Arizona’s Haskell talks brashly and backs it up with his play on the field
“I feel like I can take this San Diego State team into a whole new era.” William Haskell Jr. Aztecs football recruit
It remains to be seen whether William Haskell Jr. can leap a tall building in a single bound, but don’t put it past him.
What is confirmed about the 6foot-4 quarterback from Arizona’s Ironwood High is that he can jump onto the roof of an SUV after a short running start.
Haskell can hurdle a teammate, catch a football and complete a pass in one motion.
He can pass with exceeding accuracy, display touch when appropriate and has the arm strength to air it out when necessary.
Haskell also can zigzag through an opposing defense for a 75-yard touchdown run.
And he can lead a team to a state championship appearance after the program endured a twodecade absence from the title game.
San Diego State doesn’t need Superman at quarterback, but the Aztecs do need someone who can serve as more than a “game manager.”
Haskell has all the attributes to be the man, not the manager.
He is a key member of SDSU’s 2021 recruiting class, and is expected to participate in a signing ceremony at his high school today when the NCAA’s 72-hour earlysigning window opens.
The Aztecs anticipate signing two dozen players. That would all but complete their 25-man class.
Speaking of Haskell, another thing about the quarterback is that he does not lack for confidence.
“Next year, when I come down there, I’m going for the starting spot,” he said, “and I feel like I can take this San Diego State team into a whole new era.
“I’m looking forward to taking this team to, hopefully, a national championship.”
Does he believe he could start as a true freshman?
“Without a doubt,” Haskell said. “I’ve always had that dog mentality of I can play with anybody, and always play above my grade level.
“I feel like there’s no one in the world that can stop me from doing what I love best, and that’s just playing with better talent at different age groups.”
And then there’s this: “I feel like
I’m not only a playmaker, but I’m a, how do I say this, I’m a firestarter, in a way.”
Coaches can’t comment on recruits before they are officially signed, but it is known that SDSU covets Haskell.
The dual-threat QB profiles perfectly for the offense that SDSU offensive coordinator Jeff Hecklinski wants to run.
“After having the conversation with their coaches (back in the spring),” Haskell said, “they talked about changing to more of an RPO, getting the quarterback in the run game type of offense.
“That’s the perfect kind of offense I’d want to play for. With my skill set, I feel like I can go there next year and just dominate.”
Haskell said he particularly connected with Hecklinski, who also is SDSU’s quarterbacks coach in addition to his offensive coordinator responsibilities.
“I talked to him for a good hour (early in his recruitment), just about life and family, before even talking about football,” Haskell said. “That was something not a lot of coaches did with me. Just trying to get to know me first as a student and a person.”
That made it easier to let whispers go in one ear and out the other when people spoke negatively about his decision.
Haskell said he was told things like, “If you go to San Diego State, you’re not going to fulfill your dream of going to the NFL. That’s the same kind of thing I ran into coming to Ironwood ... I just like to prove everyone wrong.”
Haskell was questioned about attending Ironwood because the program did not have the tradition of success enjoyed by some other schools in the state. Thus, the theory went, it would be more difficult to attract attention from D-I colleges.
Haskell proved otherwise other the past three seasons
with his performance on the field.
The videos that show him leaping on top of the SUV and throwing trick passes? That’s just a bonus.
As a senior in 2020, Haskell was 113-for-169 (66.9 percent) passing for 1,863 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He gained another 453 yards on just 40 carries (11.3 ypc) that included seven touchdowns.
Ironwood reached the Arizona 5A state championship game before losing 42-20 last week to Sunrise Mountain.
Haskell had a hand in all three of his team’s touchdowns, opening the scoring with a 26-yard touchdown run, followed by a 1-yard touchdown pass and a 1yard TD run.
In May, Haskell verbally committed to SDSU.
He had offers from Akron, Duke, Fresno State, Iowa State and Northern Arizona at the time.
Arizona State, Ole Miss and Washington State later offered.
Power 5 schools were still pursuing him in the days
and hours leading up to signing day.
Haskell was tempted, but held fast to his commitment.
“After I had been thinking and talked it over with my family, I couldn’t decommit,” he said. “It’s the feeling I had about this school just before I committed. ... I thought about everything that San Diego State is going to provide me with, not only from a football standpoint but from a school standpoint.
“I don’t I think I could go to a better school than that. Just the culture we will have and what they’re trying to build.”
Aztecs honored by MW
San Diego State’s defense was once again the strength of the team and the class of the Mountain West, so it was no surprise Tuesday when the Aztecs led the way with four defensive players recognized with f irstteam all-conference members.
Defensive lineman Cameron Thomas, linebacker Caden McDonald, cornerback Darren Hall and safety
Tariq Thompson all earned first-team honors. Thompson became the first player in school history to be honored four straight years. He was a second-team pick each of the three previous seasons.
The Aztecs had five firstteam selections overall, with offensive lineman Kyle Spalding also recognized. San Jose State was the only other school with five first-teamers.
SDSU had four secondteam selections — running back Greg Bell, offensive lineman Zachary Thomas, kick returner Jordan Byrd and punter Tanner Kuljian.
Nevada quarterback Carson Strong was selected Offensive Player of the Year and San Jose State defensive lineman Cade Hall was named Defensive Player of the Year.
San Jose State’s Brent Brennan earned Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Spartans to a 6-0 record and their first appearance in the Mountain West championship game.