Former Bishop Alemany QB Blake Green Preparing for Second Shot with Glendale JUCO

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

As football fans, when we last had the chance to catch up with Blake Green, he was in the middle of a season to remember with Bishop Alemany High School. The year was 2014 and Green was a member of the 2015 recruiting class. He had just made the switch from safety to dual-threat quarterback and was slinging and running the pigskin around the yard pushing the Warriors to a 4-0 record and a spot in the Top 25 national rankings.

Green was leading a squad that included Class of 2015 running back Dominic Davis (USC) and Class of 2016 wide receiver Jarrin Pierce (Northern Colorado). Everything was going the Warriors way until a tough loss to another southern California powerhouse, Bishop Amat (La Puente). The proverbial wheels came off a little bit more when the then- 6’2”, 192 pound, talent suffered a season ending arm injury delivered by a then up and coming Class of 2016 defensive end, Junipero Serra’s Wole Betiku (USC).

Like many hopeful seniors, no matter the year or position, all seemed to be lost the instant Betiku landed on Green, but that is not Green’s style. Like he has shown time and time again, the will and determination to play the game and play it at the next level could not be extinguished. Green dusted himself off looking for the next opportunity and the next way to proceed forward. That opportunity came via area Glendale Junior College.

Green grayshirted in 2015 working through his final spring semester of high school and first fall semester of college on rehabbing and rebuilding the arm strength in his shoulder that was crunched in just the right and worst way by Betiku (6-4, 250), who is sure to do the same type of damage to top collegiate and perhaps NFL quarterbacks for years to come. Now fully healthy and ready for spring ball, I sat down with the Los Angeles area native to find out about his path back onto the field and got his thoughts and feelings about the chance to compete for the starting Vaqueros job in the pocket just a few months after many hand left his chances at playing collegiate ball at slim to none.

Interview

Alright Blake, it is exciting to talk to you again especially knowing that you are about to start spring ball for Glendale with a chance to win a starting job if all goes well this fall.

“Thank you. Yeah, it is an exciting time.”

First, let’s get the worst part out of the way and talk about your injury. If you will, recap how the injury took place and the rehab process for you to get back to 100 percent.

“What happened, it was a simple pass play. I felt pressure coming into the pocket so I rolled out. Serra defensive end Wole Betiku, he’s going to USC, came down on my right shoulder at the right angle forcing an AC separation. It was a six month full recovery time but I felt good after four months. I had a full range of motion without pain around the 4-5 month mark and at six months I was strong again.”

Glendale brought you on as a grayshirt. What did you do during the fall to keep going through the rehab process and get yourself back into football shape?

“I didn’t start throwing right away. I spent all of my time in the weight room and doing a lot of physical therapy. I also worked a lot with Coach (Leo) Glaze, the quarterbacks coach at Glendale.”

So you are 100 percent healthy and have full recovery of your arm strength?

“Yeah, I feel 100 percent better than my senior year. I was working hard in high school but physical therapy forced me to try harder and work more muscles throughout my shoulder. I am stronger than I ever have been.”

What was the fall of 2015 like for you sitting out that season? Did you use that time to help improve your knowledge of the game by being around the coaches and players?

“It was tough sitting out, but I had a positive mindset. I spent a lot of time getting use to the play calls, getting use to the coaching staff, and learning how Coach Glaze works with his quarterbacks. I picked up a lot of new stuff in the offense. I really opened up the doors to learning and learned a lot.”

What is the quarterback competition like for the starting job?

“There are three of us competing for a chance to win the job. The guys that I am competing against, Mark Powell (Sunland) and David Arriaga (Roosevelt), they took me under their wing when I first got to campus. They answered all of my questions and helped me a lot. We are a close group but we all know we are going for the same spot. We are all friends and very supportive of each other. We are all very confident in the support system between each other and coaches that will help make us a better team next season.”

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself during spring ball?

“This year I’ve been working – at quarterback, my arm feels good and accurate. I’ve been working like a running back, most of the quarterbacks are running backs with cannons, guys like Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. I don’t want to be a dual-threat per say but I want to be a quarterback that can run when needed. I’m working on my footwork and my explosive 50-yard plus plays with my feet.”

What is your height and weight right now?

“6-foot, 2-inches, and 200 pounds.”

What was the last 40-yard dash time that you ran?

“I ran a 4.6 before my senior year.”

I think you’ll be able to pull off those 50-yard runs – no problems.

(Laughs) “Thank you.”

How are spring practices set up at Glendale? Do you guys have a day on and then a day off from the field or are you going several days in a row?

“I’m not sure about the length. We have a meeting coming up where the coaches will break everything down for us. I know we will be in the weight room and on the field Monday through Friday. I know I’ll get on the field and throw with the receivers. We have everything split up in sections. The first couple of months is strictly in the weight room, then we spend time running and then in the weight room defining muscle. The third phase is all the field work.”

Knowing that you are getting this second chance so to speak, are you excited about getting the pads on again and getting after it?

“When I grayshirted, I was no-contact now I’m able to take a hit finally. I’m very excited.”

You say that but we all know you’ll have a no-contact jersey on because you’re a quarterback.

(Laughs) “Yeah, that’s true.”

I understand there is a lot of football to be played on the practice field and you have a big position competition ahead of you, but have you started thinking about your first game back on the field yet?

“Every single day. When I wake up and go to sleep. That is all that I am focused on right now. I spent last season watching and learning more about the game, now I’m ready to go out and take advantage of all that is out in front of me.”

How are classes going for you so far?

“Everything is going really well in the classroom. I finished with a 3.4 last semester. It went well. I had a lot of extra time on my hands last semester so I’d watch film or go throw. Going forward I won’t have as much spare time.”

Blake, wishing you nothing but good luck with spring practices. Welcome back.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Green family; Blake at Glendale.

Photo credit: angelusnews.com; Blake Green rolls out for Alemany.