The Journey of 2014 QB Vincent Testaverde Jr.

[TAMPA]  -  When you follow college football recruiting at the quarterback position, you are living in the fast lane.   The recruiting time clock has sped up hours; if not; days upon weeks upon a year with how quarterbacks are evaluated at the FBS and FCS levels. Few college football programs enter the start of their season without a quarterback committed.

Still, good quarterbacks can be discovered during their senior season of high school football and some are only beginning their development.   That holds true with Tampa Jesuit quarterback Vincent Testaverde, Jr.; a name well recognized by the people of Tampa Bay; and a quarterback who has just gotten his start.  Following his senior season, Testaverde had the opportunity to follow his father's footsteps playing postgraduate football at the prep level.  Instead, he discovered an opportunity many would ask for when accepting a preferred walk-on to join Kliff Kingsbury and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

GAINRecruiting.com shares the journey of Vincent Testaverde Jr. in his own words...

THE BEGINNING

"I was born in Tampa and moved to Long Island around the age of 5 or 6.   It was when I was either 7 or 8 that I went to one of my dad's games with the Jets and was allowed to go down on the field after the game that it all sunk in.  I was able to take everything in and it successfully clicked for me that football was a big part of my family's life.  I moved back to Tampa Bay in the sixth grade and my dad had always told me he was fine with what sports I played as long as I was happy.  For the longest time, my love was basketball and that was the sport I focused on.  I played shooting guard.  I was a good player but going into my sophomore year at Tampa Jesuit I started having thoughts about playing quarterback.  Even during my time only playing basketball, I would go out and shoot hoops with my dad and then spend time throwing the football with him in the yard.   During the spring of my sophomore year, I talked with my dad, and decided to switch it up and start my development on playing quarterback."

THE FIRST SPRING

"I joined the team for spring practice and learning everything as I went.   I had a lot to learn and a lot of room to grow but I was catching up fairly quick and keeping up with my teammates learning and grasping the playbook.  There were two seniors ahead of me on the depth chart so I had to make the most of limited reps.  It was a great learning period and allowed me to go to work and earn my teammates trust to become part of the team."

JUNIOR SEASON

"The coach asked me if I wanted to start junior varsity games but I did not want to be the only junior on the field.   So I worked my hardest to make sure I was prepared if I received an opportunity to start on varsity.   Through the first five games, I did not receive one snap.   I kept picking up the offense and working on my fundamentals in practice then in the sixth game of the season they put me in to execute a couple of hand-offs. The two games after I received playing time and threw about 10 passes per game."

"The following game against Lakewood, they inserted me as a starter.   I went 4 for 10 and threw for around 115 yards.   We had an opportunity to kick a field goal late in the 4th quarter to tie the game but it was blocked.   I only made one pass attempt in the red zone during that series and it made me appreciate having the ball in my hands in those situations moving forward.   During the game, I completed a pass up the seam for over 30 yards that was extended to 50 yards with yards after the catch.   That gave me the confidence I could play the position and stand in the pocket and make the necessary throws down field."

"I started the final two games of the season, and we won both games.  The final game of the season was against our rival Tampa Catholic.  I threw a touchdown pass and we won 17-3.  It gave me confidence going into the off-season that I had an opportunity to go out and play well as a senior."

SPRING 2013

"I was a completely different player coming back for my second spring.  I knew so much more, understood the game so much better, and I felt a part of the team.  I had much more comfort leading the team in practice and putting my guys in the best position at line of scrimmage.   I went into the spring knowing I had an opportunity to throw in front of college coaches but I never established any relationships to identify which schools actually evaluated me so I did not have much recruiting activity going on.  I kept my confidence level up because I knew I had my senior year in front of me to prove myself and kept putting in the work to find a way to get a little bit better each day."

SENIOR SEASON

"We had a strong season and finished 8-4.  I threw for 1,015 yards, nine touchdowns, and four interceptions.  I unfortunately suffered an appendectomy and missed the last regular season game and our first round state playoff game.  We were losing to Lake Wales in the second round game so I came in to take over quarterback duties in the second half, but I was still recovering and my stomach was not fully healed.  I did not make much of a difference.  Overall, though, I am proud of the progression I made my first year playing during my junior season through my senior season."

"I am much better prepared to make pre-snap reads and identify the "Mike" in any defense I am facing.  I have really developed my game to throw with timing and rhythm and anticipation.   My dad always told me to never rush throwing the football, get my shoulders square, and throw towards my target.  I play with eyes up field and with my feet and I am capable of making any throw down field.   A lot of FCS, Division II, and Division III schools showed interest when my film was sent out after the season but I was set on giving myself an opportunity to compete with a BCS school if I was not going to go the prep route.  I ended up having walk-on opportunities at Florida, USF, and FAU but I fell in love with Texas Tech and knew that is where I wanted to go."

TEXAS TECH VS PREP SCHOOL

"One of the reasons I never worried too much about my college recruitment was I always planned to play a postgraduate year since that is the route my dad went with Fork Union Military Academy back when he graduated from high school.   I don't turn 18 until after I graduate high school.  We had discussions with a couple of the elite post-graduate only programs in the northeast and I was leaning that direction."

"But my first trip to West Texas and visiting a place they said was a big campus in a small town convinced me that was the route I wanted to go.  I could tell as soon as I arrived and was greeted by the people of the town.   The university is surrounded with great people, and it starts with Coach Kingsbury.  He has a young, hard-working staff that does a great job relating with their players and providing energy and enthusiasm.  They have a young depth chart at quarterback and I will be coming in with an equal opportunity with guys in my same class to earn a spot on the depth chart.   Coach Kingsbury works directly with his quarterbacks.   It's a great opportunity to have him lead our position meetings and on-field work."

CLOSING

"I am excited for the progress I have made in my first year and a half of playing the quarterback position and I am even more excited for the progress and development I will make at Texas Tech.  I have put on 20 pounds of muscle since the end of last season and I want Red Raider fans to know that I am going to come in and give it my all.  They will receive my hardest work every day and I will continue to push myself and those around me to help us achieve our team goals.   I have not yet decided my area of study but I report to campus in the beginning of June and can't wait to get started."

SPRING PROSPECTIVE: 2015 OL Quentin Hall

[BOSTON] -  For every story of a path less traveled comes a story of a path well traveled; and in the case of Quentin Hall; the offensive lineman has taken the path that best serves his own development.  A four-year starter at Thayer Academy, Hall is set to graduate this spring.  Following graduation, he will enroll at Milford Academy (NY) in the fall as a postgraduate to better prepare for opportunities that await at the next level.  Frustrated with his own college recruitment, Hall's approach was to locate the opportunity he needed to prove himself.  Milford Academy is considered among the elite postgraduate football programs in the country, and after receiving an opportunity from head coach Bill Chaplick to join the team, Hall knew he had one last opportunity to prove all naysayers wrong.

THE BEGINNING

"I haven been playing football and playing along the offensive line since I was 7-years-old.   It's been the game I love ever since I started playing, and all the way up to high school I was always the biggest guy on the field.   That changed my freshman year at Thayer Academy when they started me on varsity and I found myself going up against Max Ricci at Lawrence Academy, who now plays at Boston College.  He basically picked me up and threw me to the ground.   He gave me a good reminder from that point forward I will no longer always be the biggest guy on the field."

THAYER ACADEMY

"I was a three-sport athlete also competing in basketball and baseball, and in football I was a four-year starter.   I started at right tackle my freshman year, and then started at left tackle my final three years.   I really bought and fit into the system my first three years and that allowed me the good fortune of being a team captain my senior year.   It was a rewarding experience taking on a leadership role and bringing my teammates together.  We lost a lot of games during my senior season and it forced me to take my work ethic up another level with how I worked in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field.  I did my best to lead by example and hope it pays dividends for next year's team and beyond.   I am eager to bring my experiences with me and assume a leadership role at Milford Academy and in college."

SELF-EVALUATION

"After going back and watching film of myself after the season ended, I saw that I need to finish plays stronger and dominate more consistently at the point of attack.  I went against a lot of smaller guys in high school and to the naked eye it often would look like a good block but I know I need to advance my technique to be more successful at Milford Academy and in college.  I have really focused on my explosion getting off the ball and drive blocking using my lower body in the running game."

COLLEGE RECRUITMENT

"I would label my recruitment over the last year as a roller coaster.  I received a lot of positive encouragement and indication from various FBS and FCS programs that I was in heavy discussion to receive a scholarship, but too often I was let down when it came to extending an official offer.  Through last fall, I received interest from programs such as: New Hampshire, Maine, Coastal Carolina, Richmond, and Fordham along with FBS schools like UConn and UMass.  A few weeks ago, I attended the spring game at Boston College and was fortunate to spend quality time with Coach (Steve) Lempa; my area recruiter; and Coach (Justin) Frye; the offensive line coach.  They informed me they were aware of me while I was at Thayer but they filled up on offensive line scholarships before they could review my senior film.  They are interested in getting me to a one-day camp this summer and would like to see my first three games at Milford.   This summer, I am doing my best to plan trips to Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina, and Duke.  I also will be playing the Massachuetts Shriners All-Star Football Classic from June 7th to June 21st."

MILFORD ACADEMY

"When I drove up to the school with my dad the first thing we saw outside the office buildings were two football fields.  I could tell right then with the history and tradition of the program that I knew it was the place I wanted to be.   The biggest reason I wanted the opportunity at Milford is the competition.  We are going to play a college level schedule and I could not ask for a better opportunity to physically and mentally prepare myself for the next level.  The coaching staff told me practice will be even tougher than the games and that excites me too to know the level of talent I will team with and go up against in practice every day.  It's the perfect environment for me to play football this fall."

CLOSING

"I am stronger this spring than I have ever been and have really developed my upper and lower body.  I am currently six-foot-five, 305-pounds and have been told by the Milford coaches they plan to start me at left guard.   I know what I have to do to take my game to the next level and know the competition I will face every day and in every game will prove how far I have advanced my game."

SPRING PROSPECTIVE: 2015 WR Jordan Allen

[BOSTON] - Class of 2015 wide receiver Jordan Allen was the first 2015 prospect listed on GAIN Sports in late January.   It was good fortune for us because we knew Jordan embodied much of what we looked for in our student-athletes.   First, he is a good student.   Second, he had a recruiting disadvantage in that injuries impacted his freshman and sophomore seasons so Jordan really emerged after his junior season and we evaluated that on film.   He has not reached his ceiling and it is easy to see his best football is ahead of him.  Lastly, once you get to know him he is a well-spoken and personable young man.

For his great fortune, Jordan was ahead in his start to college football recruiting due to great guidance from his father Jeffery and mother Angela.  All of their work led to Jordan's first scholarship offer this past weekend from Boston College.   That was a lifetime achievement for the six-foot-two, 190-lb pound wide receiver with untapped skills and a six-foot-six wingspan.

"I'm extremely appreciative of Boston College extending my first scholarship offer," Allen commented.  "Their my hometown school and ten minutes away from my home.  It's close to my family and I am a good fit for their scheme and style of wide receiver play.  From the top with Coach (Steve) Addazio to Coach (Todd) Fitch my position coach to Coach (Kevin) Lempa my area recruiter, they are all doing a great job representing Boston College."

"Still, I know that Boston College is the only college I know intimately right now.   I have received interest from a lot of other schools, and know it is only fair to myself to learn about each school and program so that I ultimately can make the best decision for myself and my family."

Allen hopes to have a decision made before his senior season.  A season he is working hard to make his best season yet.

"That has been my biggest focus since last season ended," continued Allen. "I am keeping my options open and working hard to play my best and help our team play our best this fall.  I had injuries that impacted my freshman and sophomore seasons and my junior season was my first that I was able to put a full season together.  I'm proud of how I played and I am focused on getting better every day."

Through 8 games last season, Allen recorded 22 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdowns averaging 15.46 yards per catch.   When asked his best attributes as a wide receiver, Allen followed up with...

"I have a large radius and I have great ability to track balls in the air and know where to meet it.  I played outfield in baseball for 6 to 7 years and believe it greatly helped me with that skill.   I'm able to get low in and out of breaks and am continuing to work and get better at the craft of running routes and running full speed with deception."

"I also know that I have a lot to learn because I have not played for a former receiver.   I take pride in my coach-ability and know I have a lot to be coached up on.  I look forward to that opportunity."

His recruitment has officially started with the hometown Golden Eagles scholarship offer and that dates back to Jordan's first summer college football camp at BC last summer.

"I was coming off a torn labrum at the end of my sophomore season and due to continued rehab scheduled Boston College as the only football camp I would attend," Allen shared.

"I think I jumped out to the BC coaches when they saw me run my forty-yard dash.  I was sluggish coming off my injury, and didn't have the start I wanted but when they saw my top end speed from 15 yards to 40 yards they selected me as part of a small group of receivers they worked extra to evaluate.  They told me to keep working hard and they would evaluate my junior film."

"After my junior season, I received an invitation to their Junior Day in late February after Signing Day.  There, I got to sit down and talk with Coach Addazio and he shared with me how envisioned the next couple months in front of me and their hope I would return to their summer camp.  He established they had interest."

"I received a follow-up invitation to receive one of their first Saturday spring practices in March and had an opportunity to meet with Coach Addazio following the practice.  He became more detailed in our meeting letting me know I checked out in all areas except the 4.6 40-yard dash I ran last summer.  He wanted to see me run a faster time.  I told him I wanted a Boston College offer and was happy to earn it."

"After giving it thought for a couple of days, I received a Facebook message from Coach Fitch to give him a call later that afternoon.   When I called him, he told me Coach Addazio wanted to speak with me but was in a meeting and to call back at 5:30."

"When I called back at 5:30, I got to speak with Coach Addazio and he told me after giving it more thought he thought I was too good of a fit for their scheme and playing style that he was extending me my first scholarship offer.   I was very excited.   I was glad it happened."

Prior to receiving his first scholarship, Allen made a west coast trip with his father to visit USC, UCLA, and San Diego State, in addition, to competing with the themed GOON Squad all-star team in the Pylon 7v7 Super Regional in Las Vegas March 15th and 16th.

"Our trip out west was a great experience.  We started at USC, and they did a great job showing us around.  We spent time with Coach (Clay) Helton and Coach (Tee) Martin.  Coach Helton told me he was impressed with my film and thought I had a great radius to catch footballs anywhere near my general area.  They invited me to come back for their camp in late June," stated Allen.

"I had a great time at San Diego State and UCLA, too.   I spent time with Coach (LeCharles) McDaniels the wide receivers coach at San Diego State, and it seemed he became more intrigued to learn more about me after watching my film.   The visits were great and made it all worthwhile to attend the Pylon 7v7 Super Regional in Las Vegas."

"I felt very blessed to compete in the Pylon 7v7 against some great talent from around the country and I personally needed it as it gave me a measurement to know I can compete with those guys.  I thought I did enough to prove I am capable of playing against the best."

Allen has received strong interest from Northwestern, Penn State, Maryland, and UConn among others a month away from the spring evaluation period.  He does not have any more visits planned before the summer, but he is working out dates to attend camps at all four mentioned above, but he is keeping an open to determine the best camps to attend this summer.

"Academics are very important to me," said Allen.   "I want to know I will receive a good education and have the support around me to walk away with a degree.   I also want an opportunity to play while I am in college and I am not afraid of a challenge to help a program rebound and take a step or steps forward."