The University of Louisville continues to lead the list of schools Trinity receiver James Quick is considering.LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – With James Quick, every interview always makes its way to The List.
Doesn't matter how many passes he catches for Trinity High School. It was eight for 116 yards Friday night. Doesn't matter how many touchdowns he scores – one in the season opener.
Doesn't matter how easily Trinity wins. Friday, it was only semi-easily because the Rocks stretched a 24-23 halftime lead into a 52-23 victory over Brentwood Academy of suburban Nashville.
Details. Merely details.
What moves the needle with Quick is The List of college football programs that he is still considering. One of his teammates, defensive end, Jason Hatcher, has already committed to USC. Had a fancy press conference in a downtown hotel. Another, Ryan White, has pledged his allegiance to Vanderbilt after initially saying that Louisville was the place for him.
With those two guys committed, it is Quick and his friend, halfback Dalyn Dawkins, who are surrounded by questions about their futures.
"Louisville, Ohio State, Oregon, Kentucky and Cincinnati," Quick said.
That is The List.
You have the all-clear to rank the teams in that order. Quick said so. He also said he did not expect to consider any other schools. The List is The List.
What he did not say is when he will deliver a decision. Hatcher and White wanted the recruiting mania over before they began the quest for another state championship during their senior seasons. Quick said he isn't certain when he will make his official visits.
He did confirm that he's been getting calls and texts from Patrick Towles, the University of Kentucky freshman quarterback. Towles is trying to convince him that UK is the best place for him to play. "He's a comedian," Quick said. "A good guy to be around."
Don't fret Louisville fans. Quick said that he also hears from Teddy Bridgewater, the Cardinals' starting quarterback. And from the coaching staff, too. "Charlie Strong is a good guy," Quick said. "He tells you like it is. And it's home. Being home is great."
Urban Meyer, the guy who won two national championships at Florida, is the point man for Ohio State's recruiting push. Chip Kelly, the guy who has turned Oregon into a trendy destination for speedballs like Quick, is matching Meyer text for text. Quick said he plans to visit Oregon and expects to attend a game at Ohio State. He still remembers the amazing site of watching the Buckeyes' spring football game with 105,000 fans.
I didn't ask who is directing the recruiting for Cincinnati because it's nearly impossible to imagine the Bearcats wiggling ahead of two home-state schools as well as two programs that aspire to win a national championship. Some will tell you Cincinnati gets a courtesy mention because the Bearcats have already offered a scholarship to Dawkins, who is close to Quick.
Quick didn't play his greatest game against Brentwood. Even he acknowledged that. Trinity used him primarily as a decoy on the first half.
"About average," Quick said. "It wasn't the best game I could have played."
He was surrounded by four tacklers on the first pass he caught. Two guys stood him up. The other two worked at stripping the football. They succeeded. Quick fumbled. Brentwood recovered. Remember, this game was tight for a half. In fact, Brentwood led, 23-17.
Hatcher had already barreled over two Brentwood players to block a punt that he recovered at the 6-yard line and then carried into the end zone for Trinity's second touchdown. White made several tackles and looked dangerous on a punt return. Quick's first half was not extraordinary.
Trinity coach Bob Beatty said that he sensed at halftime that Quick was punishing himself for making the turnover. Beatty told him to stop it.
"He can be really hard on himself and I could see the expression on his face," Beatty said. "I told him to stop it because we don't have time for that."
That was the last correction Beatty made. In the second half, Quick looked like the guy who has become texting pals with Charlie Strong, Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, Patrick Towles and others.
On the fifth play of Trinity's third second-half drive, Quick flashed through the Brentwood secondary, grabbed a pass from quarterback Travis Wright and raced 45 yards for a touchdown. Now it was Trinity 38, Brentwood 23. Now the rout was coming.
"Every time I touch the ball, I look toward the end zone," Quick said. That's my goal, every time I touch the ball to make something happen."
James Quick made something happen. He always does.
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