Interview: 2019 Prospect Daelen Menard giving Colleges a Reason to Recruit Florida Quarterbacks

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Year after year the Sunshine State produces some of the best high school football talent in the nation. In-state programs do not have to leave the confines of Florida to fill a top ranked class and out of state college coaches desperately seek to plant roots in the fertile recruiting grounds in hopes of securing game changing talents. Any team looking for a lineman, linebacker, defensive back, running back, or wide receiver – Florida has what you want. Despite all the receivers tearing it up game after game, the one position most college scouts skip in Florida is quarterback. But talents like Daelen Menard is helping change the current mindset on the recruiting trail.

Menard is fighting an uphill battle of perception among college coaches, but if anyone has the chance to make a difference he can do it. Out of the 2017 recruiting class, three true Floridians – Mac Jones (Alabama), N’Kosi Perry (Miami), and James Blackman (Florida State), were given four-star status but still ranked 30th or lower among the top players in Florida by Rivals. The same holds true so far for the 2018 class with Artur Sitkowski (Miami), Joe Milton (Michigan), and Joey Gatewood (Auburn) the only gunslingers rated as four-star players.

The recruiting case for Menard began during his freshman season when he took the reigns as the varsity starter for Monsignor Pace. Menard racked up 1,800 yards passing with 16 touchdowns adding 170 yards on the ground. A move before his sophomore season placed Menard at Chaminade-Madonna where he helped the Lions to an 11-5 record. During the 2016 season, Menard split snaps with senior three-star quarterback Henry Colombi (Utah State) completing .652 percent of his passes covering 957 yards with four scores while covering 247 yards on the ground with another touchdown posted.

The 2017 season is Menard’s chance to once again completely control the reigns of his team’s offense with all eagerly awaiting to see what he will do next. The Lions had a tough schedule in 2016 playing teams like Cardinal Gibbons, Flanagan, IMG Academy, and Trinity Christian. The 2017 docket offers no reprieve with an opener against Miami Central and teams like American Heritage, Booker T. Washington, and Flanagan yet again. The good news for Menard, he is technically strong with his mechanics. From his drops, reading defenses, and throwing with touch or on a line, Menard displays all the talents desired by college coaches. In addition to his passing talents and leadership abilities, he also has some wheels. The 6-0, 185 pound, and growing (size 13 shoe), playmaker can punish a defense with his legs just as easily as he can throwing strikes in the pocket.

Menard’s early productivity on the field is already gathering a college crowd. Temple and Dartmouth have offered and teams like Auburn, Florida Atlantic, and Ole Miss are showing enough interest to come see him throw in person during spring ball.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of Florida’s top rising quarterback talents in the 2019 class getting his thoughts on the 2016 season, his off-season workouts, and his recruiting process so far.

Interview

Daelen, what was your freshman year like playing varsity football for Pace?

“My freshman season was very good for me. It was an eye opener. That season helped me get used to the speed of varsity football. My freshman season helped me last year. I learned a lot about the speed of the game. It was a big step up in competition.”

You split snaps with Class of 2017 quarterback Henry Colombi during the 2016 season. How did that rotation between the two of you work during games?

“Most games we did a two-for-one quarter rotation. He got two then I got one. It all depended on the kind of day we were having.”

What kind of offense does Chaminade run?

“We are a mix offense. We can go under center, because we have great running backs, in the I-formation or we can go into the spread and go four-wide.”

What were some of the areas of your game that you worked hard to improve upon during your sophomore season?

“I improved my pocket presence and my movement in the pocket. I was able to scramble for time while finding guys downfield. Scrambling was a big thing I had to work on from my freshman season.”

How did your game improve overall?

“From my freshman year to my sophomore year, my scrambling game got better. I ran when I needed to not just to run. I was able to get first downs and keep drives alive. I was fitting the ball into tighter windows against better competition.”

Nice lead-in for my next question. The Lions had some tough games against very talented squads like Cardinal Gibbons, Flanagan, IMG Academy, and Trinity Christian. How did those games help push your understanding and experience in the pocket forward?

“It helps tremendously playing against top grade competition. I was playing against kids that will start next year at big time college football programs. It helps you because you want to play against the best of the best. If you do well you are really getting better.”

Were there any games or plays within games where you even shocked yourself on how well you did?

“There were a few plays in the IMG game. One of my runs, I did not think I would make it out of there. I made a few throws that I got into a tight fit. I got them in there. It helps when we have talent on our team like we do.”

Will Chaminade’s offense remain the same in 2017 or are new wrinkles and formations being added to the playbook?

“For the most part it will be the same. In spring ball, it has been the same so far.”

Are you working with a QB coach this spring?

“Yes. Two of them.”

What are you working on this off-season?

“I am working on my pocket presence and awareness. You keep working on that all the way up. I’m working on my deep ball accuracy. Quick release – you always work on that, and reading defenses. Coverages, opposition’s tendencies, and breaking down film – I’m working on all of it.”

Are you playing 7v7 ball either with an all-star team or with your high school?

“Yeah. I am playing with Florida Fire All-Star. We had one tournament as a school, qualifier. We won the whole tournament but we could not go to the state championship.”

How is 7v7 helping your game?

“7v7 helps a lot. It takes the line out of there so you can see. You have seven defensive backs against five wide receivers. You have to drill it in there quick before the hole closes.”

Have you attended any camps this spring?

“I went to the Under Armour All-American Camp in Miami, but I could not make it to Rivals or the Nike Opening.”

How did the Under Armour Camp go?

“It was pretty good. During the one-on-ones that went well. We did 3-4 and 2-4, that was not too bad. The Under Armour Camp was a well-run camp.”

Do you have plans to attend any camps in the future?

“Yes. I am going on a college tour with my school. One of our coaches is going to take us on a bus. We are going to Georgia and up to Pittsburgh and Ohio State. We are hitting a ton of camps. I will go to a few more by myself in the northeast and in Florida.”

Which camps might you attend on the team tour and/or by yourself?

“I will be at most of the Ivy League camps, Boston College, Pitt, Florida Atlantic, Miami, Georgia, and Ohio State. Those are the ones I can name off the top of my head.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you?

“I have not talked to many. They can’t talk to me yet. My coach has told me some are coming in looking at me and asking about me. We see them on the sidelines.”

Which schools have come by Chaminade to see you throw this spring?

“There have been a ton of schools at our practices. At least three schools a day. Ole Miss, Auburn, FAU (Florida Atlantic), Dartmouth, and Temple were all there last week. We had a ton of schools out there last week.”

Which schools have offered you so far?

“Temple offered me during my freshman season and Dartmouth offered me last week (May 10).”

Outside of the camps you are planning to attend this summer, do you have plans to take unofficial visits this summer?

“No.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“When the quarter ends I should be at a 3.9 unweighted.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“Science. Right now, I am in Chemistry. I like learning about that.”

What are your personal goals for the rest of the spring and summer?

“My personal goals for the summer – I want to gain weight and get around 190. l want to get faster in my 40 down to a 4.6. I want to get better for the season overall. I want to lead my team to state. I don’t want to lose the state championship this year. We have to win this.”

What are your personal goals for the 2017 season?

“I don’t have statistic goals set yet. We have some really good teams on our schedule this year, I want to knock those teams off.”

Daelen, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of spring ball.

“Thank you.”

Click link to see Daelen Menard’s 2016 Hudl highlight reel.

 

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Photo credit: Twitter.com; No. 10 Daelen Menard with teammates.

Photo credit: Menard family; Daelen Menard at a football camp.

Photo credit: Bleechr/UA Camp; Daelen Menard at an Under Armour All-American camp.