Video: Remaining quarterbacks in high school
The four remaining QBs weren't heavily recruited out of high school
We hear it all the time in sports: "It's not where you start, but where you finish."
In the case of the four NFL quarterbacks alive in the hunt for the 2017 Super Bowl, all began as mediocre prospects at best coming out of high school.
All made the most of their college careers, and have blossomed in the NFL. Three of them seem to be Hall of Fame locks, and the fourth is within striking distance. A Super Bowl championship always helps.
Here's a look at each as high school prospects.
Tom Brady
High school: Serra (San Mateo, Calif.), 1995
College: Michigan
Opponent this weekend: Steelers
As a recruit:
More of a baseball recruit than a football stud, Brady didn't even start for
his 0-8-1 JV team as a freshman. Big-armed but slow footed, he was
considered a 2- or 3-star prospect. Michigan was one of his few offers.
See this story on his
high school days.
Aaron RodgersHigh school: Pleasant Valley (Chico, Calif.), 2002
College: Butte Community College, Cal
Opponent this weekend: Falcons
As a recruit:
Rodgers had little to no recruiting interest out of high school,
largely because he had little size. He was 5-foot-10, 165 pounds in high
school. His only Division I offer was to walk on at Illinois. He opted
for Butte, where he grew to 6-2, 195 pounds and 247Sports ranked him
then as a four-star talent and No. 2 pro-style JC QB in the country. Cal
signed him after just one JC season and he started two seasons for the
Golden Bears, bypassing his senior year to enter the 2005 NFL draft,
where he landed at the No. 24 spot to the Packers.
Ben RoethlisbergerHigh school: Findlay (Ohio) 2000
College: Miami University (Ohio)
Opponent this week: Patriots
As a recruit:
Though with a big arm and great size, Roethlisberger was barely on anyone's
radar because he didn't play quarterback until his senior year at
Findlay. A three-sport star, Roethlisberger played receiver his
sophomore and junior years, giving way to the coach's son who played
quarterback.
Matt RyanHigh school: William Penn (Philadelphia), 2003
College: Boston College
Opponent this week: Packers
As a recruit: Ryan was "mildly" recruited out of the charter school, he has said. His numbers as a senior were certainly mild, throwing for 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns. His three-year career completion rate of 52 percent barely caught the attention of college recruiters either. But being whip-smart with good size and being a good all-around athlete enabled Ryan to receive offers from Purdue, Georgia Tech, Temple and Connecticut. He ultimately picked Boston College, where he threw for nearly 10,000 yards and completed 60 percent of his throws. At William Penn he was also the starting small forward on the basketball team and pitcher/shortstop on the baseball squad.
