Interview with Prolific 3-Star 2021 Texas QB Ace Whitehead

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There are teams that light up the scoreboard, and then there are teams like Lampasas High School that take it to another level. The scoreboard for the Badgers might as well be a beacon for airplanes at 30,000 feet come Friday night. The Badgers are proving to be one of the best teams in Texas pushing their record to 12-1 on the season with an offense that is throwing haymakers at a clip of 53 points per game. The engineer of that prolific pace is Class of 2021 quarterback Ace Whitehead.

Texas high school football fans are well aware of Whitehead and his heroics on the field. Still just a junior, yet Whitehead has been slinging the rock against 4A teams since his freshman season. Even then, one could tell he was something special. Unfazed by the daunting task at hand, in 2017 Whitehead threw for 2,247 yards with 19 touchdowns while posting four rushing scores. The leap came during his sophomore season putting the game experience into action connecting on 221 of 308 attempts for 3,049 yards with 35 touchdowns against just four interceptions and expanded his dual-threat talents carrying the rock 20 times for 349 yards.

As the progression on the field for the 5-11, 182-pound, quarterback continues to expand, so does the winning ways for the school about halfway between Waco and Austin to the west. The win-loss record in 2017 was 2-8, then 8-5 a year ago, and now the team is on the doorstep of making the jump to the semifinal round. Their gunslinging QB has completed 71 percent of his passes this season throwing for 3,464 yards with 45 touchdowns keeping his interceptions to a low of three attempting 301 passes. The running opportunities are being taken advantage of this year toting the rock 115 times for 686 yards with 20 more scores lighting up the board.

In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with the three-star prospect (QB Hit List) getting the inside scoop on what makes him such a dangerous weapon in the Badgers Spread offense.

Interview

Ace, the 2019 season has been a fantastic one for the Badgers so far, and it is still ongoing. In your words, why has the team been so successful this season?

“It comes from our strong unity and brotherhood. We have bene playing together since youth league. We love each other and want to play for each other to the best of our abilities.”

What is your leadership style with the team?

“I am both a vocal and lead by example guy. Playing QB, you have to be vocal at times. I have adapted to do both.”

The offense has been prolific, how are you preparing for games?

“It starts the Sunday after we play. It starts with studying the opponent and learning their coverages and fronts. The film study goes on before and after practice, lifting during the week, and at practice executing the plays in the game plan and mentally preparing.”

What base offense are you running?

“We run a multi-spread set. About 98 percent of the time we are in the shotgun. We put the ball in the air a lot.”

Within the offense, what are some of the routes you are throwing to this year?

“We throw everything – straight verticals, corners, posts, outs, curls, 12-yard come backs, slants… everything in the route tree we have in the playbook.”

How has your game shown improvement this season?

“The biggest area of improvement has been my decision making; that is a big part of playing QB. It has gotten better with my pre- and post-snap reads. My run game, courtesy to my offensive linemen, has also improved. When the play falls apart, I am getting some positive yards running the ball.”

With the big season put in and all the high scoring games, of them all which was your best personal performance?

“Our last game in the third round of the playoffs against Needville. I was 18 of 21 for 395 yards with four touchdowns. I was locked in against Needville. I ran some designed plays coach had for me as well; I think I ran 12 times for 83 yards with two more touchdowns. That was my best overall game. I was executing and getting into a rhythm.”

That certainly qualifies. What a game. During the season, was there a challenge you faced on the field or some sort of adversity you had to overcome?

“Yes. Early in the year I had a tendency to bail out of the pocket instead of sliding up. My QB coach has drilled that into me. I have gotten better at stepping up and delivering the ball.”

You get Liberty Hill (8-5) next for the right to go to the semifinal round of the playoffs after beating them 52-10 during the regular season. What are you expecting from the Panthers’ defense?

“We know their defense. They have a good defensive line, a talented linebacker, and some athletes in the secondary. They are well coached and disciplined. We have some stuff we can do. We will see if they can run with our receivers. They are a defense you have to watch out for.”

Ace, it was great spending time with you ahead of the next big playoff game. Good luck to you and the Badgers on Saturday.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Whitehead-twitter; No. 2 Ace Whitehead in action 2019