The Next Great SEC Quarterback?

by Kory Kinslow

It has been reported that there is a young man in Rochester NY at Aquinas Institute who is really turning heads and being recruited by the likes of University of Georgia and Notre Dame. The name of this young man is Jake Zembiec. He is a 6'0" 200 pound Sophomore who has been on the radar of scouts for as long as he can remember. Jake led Aquinas to a perfect record and state Championship this year.

Aquinas is a team that does not go out of their way to showcase Jake. He does that all on his own. He may go two games of throwing a combined total of 22 passes and throw 31 in the next. He may throw for 100 yards one game and then 300 in the next. Jake stays the same through all of it. His stoic and calm demeanor will certainly serve him well at any college. With the way the defenses play in the SEC, it seems he is a dream fit for any SEC Coach. He can run, throw accurately, throw the ball down the field, he is pretty much the whole package and we know that this is the type of quarterback that may not rack up stats, but wins in the SEC. I believe he would be a perfect fit for Georgia, but with offers coming in quickly, who's to say where this future star will land?

Zembiec had stats that were simply solid in this, his sophomore, year. He had 23 touchdowns with 6 interceptions and 1,721 yards on only 203 attempts in only 33 quarters of play through 12 games this year. Zembiec was featured in Sports Illustrated as the runner up for the Kid of the Year Contest as a 13 year old 7th grader. Zembiec has a great deal of character, as he was not only in this contest for his athletic ability, but he also wore pink in games for his mother who has fought through two bouts of breast cancer.

Zembiec is such a great player that the Little Irish offense had to change strategy, to use their ultra-talented quarterback the way that could better showcase his talents. They certainly were successful with it as the 16 year old won the All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year and they won the state title game 48-13 over Monroe-Woodbury. They decided they just had to let the young man throw the ball around the yard, and that he did. The coaches just let this future star let it rip in the playoffs and he didn't disappoint anyone. He threw for 3 touchdowns in only 12 attempts in the sectional final and four touchdowns and 313 yards against Jamestown in the state quarter-final. He threw three touchdowns in the championship game as well.

I've seen video on this kid and he can make all the throws. He is mobile enough to run around in the pocket and by himself town, or run for the occasional first down. Zembiec will only get better over the next two years and it seems there is no limit on his potential. Zembiec is the exact type of quarterback that could thrive in a conference like the SEC. I liken him to a Jay Cutler, with a better attitude.