DANVILLE, Calif. – Everything about Monte Vista senior quarterback Brett Nottingham fits.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he’s the prototypical size. His work ethic is constant, competitive fire fierce and his 3.98 grade point average helps with split-second timing and excellent reads.
“He’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve met in any sport,” said Monte Vista-Danville coach Craig Bergman, a former quarterback in college and assistant coach at San Jose State. “He’s like a sponge. He listens, he absorbs and learns every way possible. He’s really like a coach on the field.”
Brett Nottingham, Monte Vista
File photo by Dennis Lee
When Nottingham speaks, the Mustangs (4-0, No. 27 in California) listen. His diction is clear, precise and on the mark.
Much like his passes.
The UCLA commit enters today’s 7 p.m. home showdown against perennial national power De La Salle-Concord (2-2, No. 23 California) having completed 74 percent of his attempts this season, 70 of 95, for 1,343 yards and 15 touchdowns with no interceptions.
That’s just a shade better than his three-year career accuracy: 284 of 407 (70 percent) for 4,464 yards, 50 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
“As good as he was the first two years, the game has really slowed down for him this season,” Bergman said. “He’s sees the field better and knows what all the defenses are trying to do.”
Though former Monte Vista quarterback Kyle Wright, the 2002 Gatorade National Player of the Year, had a stronger arm, Bergman said Nottingham is more accurate.
“Both are equal mobility wise and Brett definitely has all the intangibles Kyle did.”
Nottingham was groomed for the position and all the success. He started calling signals in the fifth grade — “I actually wanted to be a running back and envisioned scoring all the touchdowns,” he said. “But I guess I picked up (quarterbacking) pretty quick.”
Athletics and academics run in the family. His dad is a doctor and older sisters Megan (tennis) and Ali (soccer) were scholar-athletes.
“I was the youngest child fighting for attention,” he said. “My parents taught me about hard work and trying to reach your potential.”
To this point he has, Bergman said. And none of it is by accident.
Nottingham is last off the practice field and helped band an entirely new group of receivers, led by junior Bryce McGovern (26 catches, 729 yards, nine TDs).
“Each and every week (Nottingham) gets better and each and every week he truly strives to improve,” Bergman said. “Some kids with college plans firmed up and all he’s accomplished might feel dialed in. But Brett constantly pushes forward and it no doubt trickles down to the rest of the guys.”
It makes perfect sense then than the groomed and prototypical robo-quarterback would love nothing more than to knock off De La Salle and all that perfection.
The Spartans haven’t lost to a Northern California team since 1991 while knocking off 177 straight North Coast Section opponents. They own the nation’s longest win streak at 151 games (1992 to 2004).
“It’s weird the kind of success they’ve had,” Nottingham said. “They do so many things well, they’re so incredibly coached and have talented players with so much pride. It’s just an awesome opportunity Friday.”
So will playing in the Pac-10 Conference.
He verbally committed in June to UCLA, where both his father and sisters attended. On Thursday, one of the state’s most coveted players, running back/strong safety Malcolm Jones also committed to UCLA.
But Stanford has come hard and since offered Nottingham.
With Monte Vista graduates in leading receiver Ryan Whalen and freshman tight end Zach Ertz doing well on The Farm, Nottingham might be tempted to stay in the Bay Area.
“My commitment to UCLA is solid,” he said Thursday.
Besides, his freshest commitment is to his Mustangs and trying to beat the seemingly indomitable Spartans.
This year’s De La Salle team appears mortal, especially offensively. The Spartans average just 256 yards and 20.5 points per game, totals they have piled up in the first half in previous seasons.
Meanwhile, Nottingham leads the Bay Area’s most prolific offense, which averages 519 yards and 46.5 points per game.
Nicknamed “The Sheriff,” after the villainous character Sheriff Nottingham in “Robin Hood,” the senior quarterback would like nothing more than putting away the Spartans, who have been robbing victories from the local high schools for years with precise offensive and defensive schemes and superior talent.
Bergman is one of Northern California’s top offensive schemers, running a fastbreak-like attack featuring short rhythm and timing routes.
“It all depends what our opponents give us,” Nottingham said. “We can go short and take some shots down the field. Coach Bergman does a great job always of drawing up a game plan and we’re all pretty selfless. We’ll do whatever it takes to be successful.”
