Football: Signing day quiet at Douglas High

Today, college football fans around the country will be buzzing about which school was able to haul in the biggest crop of blue-chip recruits and debating as to which of the nation's top high school players will shine at the next level and which will be a flash in the pan.

National Signing Day, annually the first Wednesday of February, is the culmination of a years-long process geared toward assigning star values to top high school prospects and college coaches doing their best to assemble the most "stars" at their respective schools.

It's a process that will make or break the coach and go a long way toward fulfilling (or greatly complicating) the dreams of the player.

It's a process that doesn't do any favors for players from rural high schools.

"No one ever said it was fair," Douglas High football coach Mike Rippee said. "It just is what it is. Living in Nevada, there are not many choices here. If you aren't on the University of Nevada's radar, you have to go somewhere else and find an opportunity.

"You look in the Midwest and back East, they have Division II, Division III, NAIA. There are a ton of opportunities, but those schools have to kind of stay in their area, budget-wise, for their recruiting.

"You don't have to be 6-4 and run a 4.3 40-yard dash. They look more at the quality of the kid and what he did on the field back there. The guys who grow up around here and aren't born with Division I size and speed have to hope they can find that kind of opportunity."

This year's Northern Nevada recruiting class is a strong case in point.

The University of Nevada got committments from Spanish Springs linebacker Luke Arciniega (6-3, 210 pounds), Manogue offensive lineman Connor Talbott (6-3, 245) and Reed offensive lineman Kyle Roberts (6-6, 265).

"So much anymore, it's about how the player looks on paper," Rippee said. "Those guys all have great size, and they are great players. But it shows you these schools are really looking for that prototypical size and frame."

Another Reed lineman, Garrett Corbett (6-6, 275) is set to sign with San Diego State today and Hug receiver/defensive back Tre Johnson (6-7, 195) is reported to still be weighing his options between Division I football or basketball.

In the meantime, a handful of Douglas' top next-level prospects are still waiting for a call, any call, to play football next year.

Running back/linebacker Johnny Pollack (6-0, 175) and defensive lineman Garrett Tenney (6-2, 204) are the most likely to play at the next level, but their size (or lack thereof) hasn't drawn any Division I interest.

It's not for lack of qualifications. Pollack led the region in rushing this year with 1,054 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also recorded 95 tackles, 10 for a loss, on defense. It was good enough to garner Northern 4A Player of the Year honors from both the area's coaches and the Reno Gazette-Journal.

He also earned first-team all-state honors at linebacker and second-team honors at running back.

Tenney was a first-team all-region pick and second-team all-state pick on the defensive line after recording 63 tackles, seven sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.

"Johnny is barely six feet tall and Garrett is kind of that 'tweener' linebacker, defensive end mold," Rippee said. "Johnny will get bigger, easily over 200 pounds and we know he can play. Garrett is very physically tough, but not real big.

"Both guys have sent out a lot of letters and a lot of film. We're just waiting to see what pops up for them. You're talking about guys who will bring quality to your program. You don't have to worry about them. They'll work hard and they'll do what you ask. That's something that doesn't really translate on paper."

Both players are looking to go the smaller school route. Rippee said Tenney has been in close contact with NAIA Jamestown College in North Dakota and Division II Hillsdale in Michigan.

Rippee said NAIA powerhouse Carroll College in Montana could be good fit for both players as well.

"They're always very successful, I think they've won six national championships in the last 10 years or so," Rippee said. "They recruit a lot more in the Montana area too, though, so that is a challenge.

Another Tiger senior, kicker Nikolai Vasquez, could get a look after a season during which he also garnered second-team all-state honors after nailing a 51-yard field goal during the playoffs and routinely booting the ball through the end zone on kickoffs.

He visited Humboldt State after the season and was receiving some interest from Southern Oregon.

Rippee said the smaller schools often offer a better overall experience for the student athlete.

"The smaller schools, you end up getting a better balance between academics and football," he said.

"Division I football is a full-time job. It's not a complaint, it just is that way. It's big business. The academics a lot of times come secondary. These smaller schools, you get the football experience but you get more time to focus on your academics."

That's not to say there aren't success stories for rural kids at Division I schools.

Zach Weber, who graduated from Douglas in 1997, went to a junior college initially and ended up playing for Boise State as the Broncos were just beginning to become a successful Division I program.

Chance Kretschmer, who Pollack has drawn many comparisons to, came out of then-2A Tonopah, spent his first year at Nevada playing linebacker and was slated low on the depth chart at running back entering the 2001 season. By the end of the year, he was leading the nation in running.

Rippee also noted recent Douglas grads, like Brent Koontz who is playing fullback at Southern Oregon or Davey Fisher, who started at Pacific Lutheran this year, who have found a fit at smaller schools.

"These guys want to play, they'll end up playing," Rippee said. "That's what it comes down to. They'll find a good fit somewhere and that school hopefully will be able to provide some sort of help. It's just a matter of working hard and waiting now."