QB Mortensen has good pedigree

Junior to Watch: Alex Mortensen

School: Atlanta Landmark Christian

Position: Pro-style quarterback

Size and speed: Mortensen is 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. He has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.68 seconds, has a 30 inch vertical leap, 275-pound bench-press and a 350-pound squat. He also has an impressive 3.95 grade-point average.

Honors: Mortensen was named the South metro offensive player of the year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He was also named his region’s player of the year and first team quarterback.

Statistics: Mortensen threw for 2,270 yards on 241 attempts for 151 completions with 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

Favorite Schools: Mortensen has several offers but did not want to indicate from who yet. He listed his top teams as Alabama, Georgia, Louisville, Florida, Arkansas, Hawaii, Cal, San Diego State and Texas Tech. He does not claim a leader early in the recruiting process.

Skinny: Working for ESPN as an expert on the NFL has allowed Chris Mortensen to see what it takes to be a special breed of quarterback. So when he says that his son, Alex Mortensen, has a shot at being something special, you know he’s not just being a proud father and is shooting straight with you about how talented his son is. And when you pop in his scouting video, the tape proves Mortensen right.

Simply put, Mortensen has what it takes to operate a high-profile passing attack on the next level. He has the ability to complete about any type of pass you’d like, so it’s no surprise that teams are already extending scholarship offers to the 6-2, 185-pound gunslinger.

“Because my dad is an NFL analyst for ESPN I have been around football all my life,” Mortensen said. “I have been blessed to have been tutored by Phil Simms, Steve Young and Peyton Manning. I also have a great head coach and offensive coordinator in Wayne Brantley. He helps me do the right things.”

Even with those NFL connections, it’s mainly Mortensen’s hard work and determination that has allowed him to develop into what he is now. He admits that he’s a weight room fanatic and a real student of the game.

“What’s even more impressive about Alex is that he basically played his junior season at 16 years old,” his father said. “He isn’t even shaving yet, so he is still physically maturing. Yet he is strong for his size. In fact, Lincoln County coach Larry Campbell, the coach with the most wins in Georgia high school history – said that Alex was one of the best quarterbacks he had seen in his 33 years, and added that he was the best at reading defenses at his level.”

Rivals100.com got a chance to see Mortensen first three years ago at the Tennessee summer camp and there is no question that he has developed, gotten stronger and positioned himself into consideration for a solid ranking as a senior. And now that it’s finally his time, it looks like Mortensen is about to set out on an unofficial visit tour that will take him to some of the top colleges across the nation.

Mortensen is planning on visiting Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Louisville, Cal and San Diego State here in the next few weeks and the family has already made an unofficial visit to Hawaii where he was personally escorted by Rainbow Warrior coach June Jones.

So what will Mortensen look for in the perfect school?

“Is it a good fit will be the first thing I look at,” he said. “What’s the tradition like? Do they run an aggressive offensive scheme? I’m also looking at the character of the coach and what the academics are like.”