Thrust into limelight
Former Dwyer star Brissett used to playing on fly
Jacoby Brissett has a habit of landing in the spotlight at critical times.
As a high school freshman in 2007, he was pressed into action in a regional final after Dwyer’s starting quarterback came outwith a knee injury.
Quarterback injuries also threw Brissett into his first college game— as a true freshman at Florida, on the road against top-ranked LSU.
Last week, the 23-year-old Dwyer grad got his first playing time in the NFL, completing a career trifecta of unexpected debuts. Brissett came off the bench in the second quarter after New England’s starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, was knocked out of Sunday’s game versus Miami with a sprained shoulder.
The rookie is expected make his first start Thursday night as the Patriots host the Houston Texans.
Jack Daniels, Brissett’s high school coach, talked to Brissett on Sunday night to extend congratulations following the Patriots’ 31-24 victory. Knowing his former star might be Thursday’s starter on a short week, Daniels told him, “You better
get ready to play.”
But Daniels believes if anyone can succeed under such circumstances, Brissett is that man.
“The kid has been thrust into situations like this his whole life,” he said. “As a freshman playing Booker T. Washington in a playoff game — he came off the bench as a 15-year-old freshman against one of the best teams in the country and almost won the game.”
Down 7-3 with six minutes left on Dec. 7, 2007, as Dwyer made a final push for a state final four berth, Brissett led the Panthers downfield to the 16-yard line. After he threw two incomplete passes, the coaching staff opted to kick the field goal rather than go for it on fourth-and-11. Daniels said after the loss he rued the decision.
Tim “Ice” Harris, who coached Booker T. to the state title that year, remembers being impressed by Brissett.
“He was a great player to watch as a high school player on film,” said Harris, now in his 12th season coaching the Tornadoes. “When you’re watching an opponent on video — we were able to pick up some positive things he was doing and teach it to our players.”
Athird-round draft pick for the Patriots, and expected to be the team’s third-string QB, Brissett was upgraded to backup after Tom Brady’s fourgame suspension by the NFL for his role in “Deflategate” was upheld this summer.
Inserted on the fly on Sunday, with New England ahead 24-0, he completed 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards and spent most of the afternoon handing the ball off.
If he gets the nod, Brissett will be the first quarterback out of Palm Beach County to start an NFL game since Cardinal Newman’s Craig Erickson, who started three games for the Miami Dolphins in 1996.
“I’m just taking this week like any otherweek,” Brissett told reporters during a media availability this week.
Daniels was toggling between NFL games at the time, but suddenly received a deluge of text messages about Brissett’s entrance. Daniels had been excited to see Brissett play, but he also had reservations.
“I got a sick feeling in my stomach, because I kind of wanted him to hold a clipboard and learn his first year and not be thrown into the fray,” said Daniels. “I’ve never seen Jacoby nervous, but I think he was nervous at this stage.”
Brissett’s other coach at Dwyer, Fred Ross, said he’ll be glued to the TV on Thursday night.
Ross guided the 2011 Panthers basketball team, led by 6-foot-4 senior guard Jacoby Brissett, to a state championship. Afterward, Brissett earned the Sun Sentinel’s Player of the Year award, pairing it with his football POY honor fromthe fall.
Entering his 26th season at Dwyer, Ross canceled conditioning practice Thursday so he can tune in.
“He’s going to be prepared. I guarantee you,” Ross said. “Jacoby’s a highly intelligent guy, he may be one of the smartest athletes I’ve ever coached.”
As Daniels noted, it can’t hurt that Brissett has fourtime Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick on his side.
Still, Daniels is nervous about Brissett thrown into such a difficult task. Daniels said because Dwyer’s JV and freshmen play Thursday night, he may not see the Patriots-Texans game, which suits him fine.
“I'm just happy with hearing if he does well.”