Jewell glad to have Div. I coaches back
It's been a long time for high school football players to make their first impressions in front of Division I college coaches in the spring. The coaches are back. No off-limits. No more COVID-19 protocol to keep them away.
And the players, especially next season's seniors, can't wait to show what they've got during spring football workouts in what has always been the chance to make that first big recruiting impression.
Not since 2019 has there been an allowance for Division I coaches to see high school football players practice in person during the Arizona Interscholastic Association's three-week spring football from late April and into May.
The players in the 2023 class were still finishing up their freshman year when D-I coaches last saw them in spring workouts. They were young, unpolished, still maturing.
That is the main storyline entering spring football that begins for some schools across the state on Monday and for the rest in two weeks, as every school gets a chance to run organized football practices, installing offenses and defenses, without the full pads, before the June 7-on-7 competitions begin.
Here are 10 spring football storylines:
1. They're back
Brophy Prep coach Jason Jewell, who once ran a popular recruiting site, realizes how big this spring is to have the Division I college coaches back. He's got an especially strong 2024 class that is led by defensive end Mardale Rowe, who has several Power 5 offers after making an impact his sophomore season.
But he realizes it's a different time now in recruiting.
"Spring is vitally important for recruiting," said Jewell, who will be entering his third season as head coach. "These college coaches want to see what kids look like in person and see how they run around.
"For the most part, I think recruiting is back on track but recruiting is definitely different. I believe there are fewer opportunities for high school kids because of the transfer portal, as well as more kids staying in college from the COVID year they got back."
2. Developing chemistry
It's one thing to come to a new school to start the 2022 calendar year, coming in from Texas. It's another thing being ranked the No. 1 prospect in the nation in the 2024 class by On3.com. How quarterback Dylan Raiola rallies the new Chandler teammates around him will be big this spring.
Coach Rick Garretson, whose team fell short by a touchdown last year to Scottsdale Saguaro in the Open final, needs to find out who are the guys surrounding Raiola who can make plays once they get their hands on the ball. His top three receivers are graduating.
And the Wolves didn't have that big boom running back last season like they had during their run of five consecutive state titles.
The offensive line will be more experienced and much better, which is good for prostyle QB Raiola, whose father Dominic, a former 14-year NFL center for the Detroit Lions, is helping work with the linemen. How much has wide receiver Justice Spann improved and how effective will running back Ca'lil Valentine be in their second season on varsity?
3. Showing off that extra gear
Saguaro quarterback Devon Dampier's emergence in the Open playoffs was the story of the postseason last year. How much more has he developed? Are there any more gears to this guy's game?
His legs set him apart with his ability to fake out defenders, twist and turn, and make big plays. His confidence soared the deeper Saguaro got into the playoffs last year, and now he's got the ability to make all of the throws, even on the run.
He has plenty of young playmakers, but he'll have to be patient with the one who might end up being his biggest.
Saguaro coach Jason Mohns said that 2023 wide receiver Deric English probably won't be full-go on his surgically repaired knee until summer 7-on-7s. English was regarded as one of the nation's top 2023 receivers, before he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his first game eligible at midseason last year.
4. Call to arms
How are Casa Grande and Goodyear Desert Edge going to transition with new quarterbacks after being spoiled by the same guy for the last four seasons?
The Cougars are moving on without QB Angel Flores (now at Northern Arizona) and Desert Edge without QB Adryan Lara (Kansas State), along with coach Jake Barro (now leading Tempe Corona del Sol). The two quarterbacks combined to win 71 games in their four-year varsity careers with Flores capping it off with a 4A title.
But both schools are excited about the future at quarterback.
It could be time for Desert Edge's Hezekiah Millender, who had 45 touchdowns on the freshman team last season. And Casa Grande first-year head coach Mark Luna believes current freshman Eltorna Gant can become as special as Flores.
5. Coaching changes
As usual, there were some wholesale coaching changes since last season from all over the state, most notably in the Valley, where Joseph Ortiz made the big move from the Northwest Valley to the Southeast Valley, leaving a rock-solid Glendale Cactus program -- one he took from 4A and into the Open playoffs last year -- to try to restart Gilbert Perry's program that has struggled since the Purdy brothers -- quarterbacks Brock and Chubba -- graduated.
Ortiz has his foot on the gas pedal and has brought in some key coaches to help, notably former Tempe Corona del Sol defensive coaches Justin Clare (who will work with the linebackers) and Mike Yarbrough (defensive line). And with Robert Allen coming over from Cactus with Ortiz, Perry's defense could be vastly improved, especially with explosive defensive end Aiden Herring back for his senior season.
Even when Perry was in its glory years with back-to-back state final appearances with the Purdy brothers, it was all about outscoring other teams. The hope for Ortiz is that the defense can become a story Perry hasn't been able to embrace in some time.
6. Balancing act
It's a changing of the guard at quarterback at Chandler Hamilton, after Nicco Marchiol led the Huskies to the Open final and Open semifinals the last two years. With Marchiol now starting his college career at West Virginia, the quarterback duties go to junior Roch Cholowsky. But he's going to be in the thick of the double-elimination 6A state baseball tournament, which doesn't end until May 17.
By then, it would be too late to get any reps on the football field at quarterback. Unless he does a balancing act. But Cholowsky is committed to UCLA for baseball, although he said at the beginning of the baseball season he plans to play quarterback next season for the Huskies. He's been one of the state's best punters the last couple of years, and he's ready to lead the Hamilton offense on the football field.
If Cholowsky doesn't get out for spring football, this will allow coach Mike Zdebski to evaluate other quarterbacks in the program.
7. Reeling egos back in
The 7-on-7 scene in the winter and early spring has taken off in Arizona, where athletes from opposing schools mix together to form what amounts to as club passing league teams. This, in some cases, has turned into touch football on steroids with players getting super hyped after touchdowns and games getting testy with smack talk and chippiness. The last thing the high school coach wants to do is reel egos back in. But in some cases, it happens.
"When they play 7s, they let trash talk rule the game," said second-year Lakeside Blue Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock, who saw that during his 13-year run leading Mesa Desert Ridge. "When we coach them, we tell them to have a short memory and move on to the next play.
"I told kids that if they played in 7s leagues and they bring that nonsense to the field, then they can find another team."
8. Restoring the Thunder
Phoenix Desert Vista is on its third coach in three years, but Athletic Director David Klecka hopes he struck gold this time by bringing Nate Gill across the Valley to lead the Thunder. Gill was The Republic's Coach of the Year last season, despite not getting into the playoffs.
But what he did at Sierra Linda was remarkable. No football in 2020, because of the Tolleson district's COVID concerns. No wins in the 2019 season. Then, presto, an 8-2 season in 2021. He built that program from nothing by getting the kids' all-out buy in and respect. He expects to do the same at Desert Vista, which is still a gold mine for football talent in Ahwatukee, battling with Mountain Pointe for kids. Watch for Gill to turn it up a few notches with his commitment and passion that becomes contagious.
9. Breaking new ground
There's a new school in Queen Creek, called Crismon, which is also the name of a road that runs through Desert Ridge and Skyline. Former Tempe McClintock coach Corbin Smith will break in that program with all underclassmen. There's a new school in Maricopa, called Desert Sunrise, with former River Valley coach Jonathan Clark starting that program.
Both are booming areas with new housing with potential to someday become football powerhouses. They've got the right coaches directing their first steps.
How excited is Clark? He is finishing up coaching track and field at the 3A Bullhead City school but said he will drive to Maricopa to make sure the school's first spring football goes off smoothly. That's commitment.
10. First offseason
Vince Lee is going into his fourth year as Tuba City's head football coach. And this will be his first offseason spent with his team on the school's turf.
He was hired in June 2019, so he missed spring football with the players. In his second year, everybody was in COVID lockdown. And last year, the school was still locked down on the Navajo reservation due to the virus and he could only hold "club" workouts on an old airport landing strip far away from the school with limited numbers.
After going 3-7 last season, the wins are coming, Lee believes.
"We have already had a 1,000-pound challenge to showcase the results of our off-season training program," he said. "Our offseason strength program, called "Warrior Strong," started in January.
"Our program is moving forward," Lee added. "This upcoming season should bring the Ws and establish us as a competitive program. We are looking forward to competing in our conference and turning out program around."