Sleeper QB about to wake up
There is a player in the Inland Valley that is somewhat a sleeper due to the fact that he plays for a school that is relatively new. By the time the end of May rolls around, he will be a known commodity outside of the Pac10 area.
The player to jot down for your memory bank is quarterback/athlete Michael Coleman (6-2, 225, 4.5) from San Bernardino (Calif.) Arroyo Valley.
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For his career, Coleman has thrown for 3,046 yards, 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In his career, he has rushed for 1,482 yards and has scored 21 rushing touchdowns.
Coleman is the prototypical is the dual-threat quarterback. As a junior, Coleman threw for 1,171 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the ground, he accounted for 710 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
“Michael has run flawlessly the no huddle offense since his freshman,” Arroyo Valley head coach Tony Di Thomas said. “We send in plays by hand signals and he has such a good feel for the game; if he doesn’t like the play he shakes it off like pitcher shakes off a catcher.”
“Michael is the best player on the field wherever we play him,” Di Thomas said. “Michael has the talent to play anywhere on the field, but he wants a shot at quarterback.”
“Even USC has called me a couple of times,” Di Thomas said. “When we were at the USC spring practice the other day USC recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron came over to me and privately said ‘we know Coleman can play’. Orgeron told us that they will be keeping an eye on Michael.”
“Michael can get the ball anywhere we need him too,” Di Thomas said. “He is great throwing down field, he throws a nice long ball.”
Look for Arroyo Valley to showcase his talents on both sides of the ball as a senior.
“Michael could see a lot of action as a free safety this coming season,” Di Thomas said. “He could play as much as 50% of the time on defense.”
At one time or another Coleman has played quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety and cornerback for Arroyo Valley.
Make no mistake, it is quarterback that Coleman wants to play. He has all the important intangibles that all the great quarterbacks have, especially as a leader. Coleman has tremendous leadership skills.
What is Coleman looking for in a school?
“I want to get a degree and hopefully go to the pros,” Coleman said. “I want to go to school that will give me an opportunity to play quarterback.”