Interview with Crespi California QB Josh Greaves

Written by Ryan Wright

Across the U.S., as high school football programs pickup summer camp that will lead straight into the season and continue all the way through November, or later, a backyard brawl has begun. High school players are putting in the extra hours in the weight room and on the practice field, studying film, and battling their teammates and friends for a shot at being a starter on their respective squads.

Crespi quarterback Josh Greaves is one of the thousands of you men going through the grind.

Encino high school is one of the many powerhouse football programs in the Los Angeles area. The Celts produced four players who signed letters of intent on National Signing Day as part of the 2015 recruiting class; DB Marvell Tell – USC, LB DJ Beavers – Washington, DT Vaimoe Sekona – Oklahoma State, and WR Christian Pearson – Penn. Crespi already has two Class of 2016 players verbally committed to UCLA, DE Marcus Moore and RB Jalen Starks, with others like Greaves ready to give their all for a shot to play at the collegiate level.

In 2014 Crespi finished 9-2 advancing into the second round of the playoff before falling to Long Beach Poly 44-27. Greaves, 6’1”, 200 pounds, was behind senior Weston Massett after he missed the first part of the season due to transfer rules coming over from Albert Einstein High School.

Greaves, like many seniors, has this one shot to show his worth on the field in hopes of drawing scholarship offers but must first go through the gauntlet of summer ball to secure his starting spot under center. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Greaves to get an update on his offseason camp circuit, how his recruiting is shaping up, and get an insight on how the competition is shaping up for the Celts heading into the 2015 season.

Interview
Josh, what camps did you go to over the offseason?

“I went to one camp this summer; it was a Stanford camp (Stanford Overnight Camp 2-day camp). We went up to Palo Alto and there were actually 20 different colleges there. I performed really well there. I can’t remember off the top of my head but I believe there were five colleges that were really interested in me.

“At the camp I believe there were 24 junior/senior (Class of 2016) quarterbacks there. I was a Top 2 quarterback there. Schools like Kenyon College, University of San Diego, Claremont Mud-Scripps, Wayne College in Ohio, and Washington University in St. Louis, they were really interested in me. After I performed well and that camp I didn’t feel like I needed to go to any others because I was pretty well set.”

Did you leave the camp with the impression that you will be offered from at least one of those five schools?

“I’m in close contact with Washington University in St. Louis, they’re a Division-III school. They’re a really high academic school. The No. 2 business school in the country, I want to major in business. Of course University of San Diego, that’s my No. 1 choice. They’re Division-I. I talked to the coach and they seem interested. University of San Diego – I was very happy with that.”

With St. Louis, being a D-III school, can they offer you a full-ride or would they offer you a partial scholarship?

“They said for sure that they were going to give me some sort of tuition reduction. We have not discussed the details of the whole scenario. They can’t offer a full scholarship because they are D-III unless it is a full academic scholarship. I just know that I’d get a significant tuition reduction. That’s all I know.”

Where did USD leave everything with you?

“I talked to their quarterback coach (Danny Mitchell), he asked me to send in my highlight reel as well as my transcripts. I sent them both in and he said they were both very impressive and asked for me to come and visit the school. I have to visit the school and talk to the head coach (Dale Lindsey). He said they were very interested but gave no real inclination if they were going to offer a scholarship.”

When do you plan on going down to San Diego to talk to the coaches?

“Towards the end of July, I’m thinking. The end of July most likely I’ll go down to San Diego. I still have not told them yet what date. Well see, sometime when I do not have football practice, maybe I’ll go after a practice.”

You mentioned practices, have you started going through summer practices with Crespi already?

“We started practicing for summer three weeks ago. We haven’t gone into pads yet. We start pads the first week of August. We have another 2.5 weeks until that point. Right now it’s just summer, I think June 26 through the start of August. I’m competing for the starting job and we’ll see how it goes.”

How did 2014 end up for you? How much time did you get under center?

“Against Notre Dame and Chaminade I got a couple of reps, it was in the fourth quarter when we were leading by a lot. We had a starting quarterback, a senior but he got all the reps. Last year I didn’t see much playing time.

“This year I like my chances of starting. I’m not the starter yet but I’m very confident and I’ve been doing really well. I’ve been improving and that’s always a good sign. At this point I’m competing for the job, like I said, but from last year I’ve improved immensely. Not only as a quarterback with my footwork but also as a leader and with my decision making. My leadership and my decision making are my two biggest attributes. I’m starting to get the respect of the team that helps my confidence a lot.”

What are some of the other things you’ve been working on in the offseason to improve your skill set as a quarterback?

“I’ve been watching a lot more film since last year. This year I want to start. I’ve been watching a lot more of my own film. I’ve been watching what other teams do so I can make adjustments on the field. When I watch film I also watch other people like my receivers and my linemen so I can help them if they need help. I can make sure they can ask me any questions and I can be like a coach on the field. I can be a leader but I can also help them and make them better as well.”

Have you had a chance to look at the 2015 schedule yet?

“This year we have the same Mission League schedule just the home games are different. Our schedule is pretty tough this year because we are playing two Trinity League teams in Orange Lutheran and St. John Bosco. Those are two very big perennial powerhouses. We’ve watched some of their film. They look good but I feel confident. We could start the year right, if we win those games we’ll get a good reputation and give us confidence before league starts.”

Where do you guys get Bosco?

“We play them there at Cerritos College. I believe that is the third game of the season. That’s one of the games we are looking forward to see where we are at as a team early in the season.”

What can we expect from Crespi in 2015?

“I feel like this season, we don’t have a lot of players on our team. We always come out with 30 to 35 guys on our roster but I feel really confident about this season. We have a quarterback battle right now, a four-way quarterback battle. I feel like whoever wins the quarterback battle, hopefully it is me, I feel like he will take us to the playoffs and to a championship.

“The program that Coach (Troy) Thomas has run for us has grown a lot since last year. All of us are getting stronger and hitting the weight room. For me personally, I feel like I am a better athlete and a better student of the game. This season will help me with my future with which ever college wants me. This year will be fun. I’ll work hard and it’ll be a stepping stone. Hopefully I’ll be playing D-I football.”

Good luck this year.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: hudl.com; Josh Greaves.
Photo credit: calhisports.com; Crespi is ready to take the field.