Video: Son of Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez looks like real deal at quarterback

Video: Son of Rich Rodriguez is the real deal
Rhett Rodriguez stars for Catalina Foothills (Ariz.).

Sons of coaches tend to go in one of two directions: Headfirst or a U-turn.

Rhett Rodriguez, son of University of Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez, definitely looks like a headfirst kid — not only because he's heady — but he plays and runs very hard as the quarterback at Catalina Foothills (Tucson, Ariz.).

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior is a third-year starter for the Falcons, who have backed up last year's 7-4 playoff team with a 4-2 start. The year before dad arrived at Arizona, Catalina Foothills went winless. But once he arrived, Falcons coach Jeff Scurran made Rodriguez his first freshman quarterback starter.

Catalina Foothills went 8-3.

Rodriguez, a dual-threat with good speed and a strong arm with touch, threw for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman. He completed almost 70 percent of his throws.

Last year he threw for 1,718 yards and 15 touchdowns (only four interceptions) and completed 68.1 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns.

In his first two games this season, he completed 20 of 28 (71 percent) for 143 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 24 times for 180 yards and three scores.

In a 61-3 win over Rincon/University two weeks ago, Rodriguez threw for 245 yards and three scores and rushed for 58 yards and four touchdowns.

Rich Rodriguez once told a group of reporters when he was at Michigan that Rhett, then 7, would be a starting quarterback for the Wolverines. Rhett hasn't secured a scholarship offer yet, but he's getting close. One of his idols is former West Virginia great Pat White, a second-round pick of the 2009 draft by the Miami Dolphins.

Longtime Arizona Republic staff writer Richard Obert said Rodriguez led the Raiders to a comeback win with a late drive in his first varsity start.

"He's a fun-loving kid who leads on and off the field," Obert said. "He understands how to get the most out of his teammates."