It's not out of the questions that Southern Mississippi football coach Larry Fedora isn't rooting for
Ricky Lloyd. Not this season any way.
Lloyd is on pace to throw 44 TDs in regular season.
Photo by Gary Jones
The
Concord (Calif.) High School senior quarterback has committed to Fedora and the Golden Eagles but if he continues his record-setting pace, there's no question he'll get loads more of college interest.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Lloyd was considered largely under-recruited, according to Concord coach Brian Hamilton, and the way he's playing midway through the 2010 season, that figures to change.
Hamilton said only Southern Mississippi and Iowa State actively recruited the third-year starter who runs Concord's high-octane spread attack with decisiveness and precision.
The ninth-year Concord coach said he's surprised spread teams like Oregon, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State haven't come calling.
That definitely could change if Lloyd continues his pace. Unlike the old days, just because a player commits early doesn't mean other colleges don't actively recruit.
"Right now Southern Miss is the perfect fit," Hamilton said. "They want him, he wants them and they run the right kind of offense."
Lloyd is the first Bay Area to Southern Mississippi connection most locals can ever remember.
His numbers are extremely memorable.
In fact, they are hard not to gawk at, unless you’re Lloyd himself.
He's on pace to shatter many Bay Area single-season passing marks and yet talented senior is oblivious to his accomplishments.
“He has no idea,” Hamilton said. “Everyone else asks about his numbers – parents, adults, coaches, kids - but the only thing he ever points out is that all of our receivers have touchdowns.
That’s of note because the Minutemen (4-1), who play cross-town rival Clayton Valley (4-1) Friday, lost their top four 2009 receiving threats to graduation. That talented quartet – all playing collegiately - caught each of Lloyd’s 36 touchdowns last season, when he completed 192 of 330 for 2,728 yards.
With a whole new brigade, the Southern Mississippi-bound slinger has been even better, completing 130 of 195 for 1,711 yards and 22 scores, with three interceptions. He ranks first in California in completions, is second in touchdowns and third in yards.
He’s on pace to complete 260 passes and 44 touchdowns which would beat the Metro regular-season marks of 233 and 41, both set by Ryan Hancock of Monta Vista-Cupertino in 1989.
If Concord makes a playoff run, Lloyd has shot to break most of the Metro season marks for completions (260), touchdowns (45) and yards (4,185). The Northern California records are 296, 4,323 and 52.
Lloyd is mobile and throws well on the run.
Photo by Gary Jones
Lloyd already broke the NorCal mark for completions with a 41-of-53 performance for 338 yards and five touchdowns in a 36-23 win at Amador Valley-Pleasanton Sept. 10. It was the fourth best mark in state history and shattered the NorCal record of 33 set in 1977 by Bob Peterson of Analy-Sebastopol. The state mark is 47.
“It was art work,” Hamilton said. “Amador Valley is really a good team and if he completed five less passes we lose by two touchdowns.”
With just 24 players, Hamilton runs a spread, no-huddle attack. Though timing is key, Hamilton said Lloyd’s arm strength, decisive decisions and footwork are key. “Our line struggled last year so he had to learn to get rid of the ball within 2.5 seconds while going through three to five progressions. He puts the ball right where it’s supposed to be.”
The benefactors have been
Kelly Starnes(40 catches, 698 yards, 11 TDs),
Terrance Young (32-526-4) and running back
Alec Pica (486 rushing yards, five TDs). The big numbers and scholarship offers hasn’t changed Lloyd.
“He’s definitely built to handle this,” Hamilton said. “He’s just about having fun and being humble. He’s still the guy bringing in the water bottles. He doesn’t realize how important he is in all of this and I’m not going to tell him.”
