San Clemente TE Cole Fotheringham working defenses like a WR for Pac-12 and MWC scholarships

No matter who is under center for San Clemente High School in 2015 head coach Jamie Ortiz knows he has a mismatch on offense he has to exploit game after game. That offensive weapon is 6’5”, 225 pound, tight end Cole Fotheringham.

Fotheringham finished up his junior season in 2014 burning Southern California defenses by pulling down 55 passes for 650 yards with nine touchdowns. He routinely worked over linebackers and safeties giving up his body to go across the middle to help keep the chains moving. Whether the ball was laid out in stride or a little off one way or the other, the big target would work off the line or out of the slot to find a spot in the zone or put a nasty move on a defender to create space all the way to a 12-2 season for the Tritons.

The athletic tight end with great hands caught the attention of Pac-12 and Mountain West Conference coaches landing offers from Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Utah, and Utah State with schools like USC, Washington, and Nebraska showing interest.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we quizzed Fotheringham on all things football covering his 2014 season, how he is preparing for his senior campaign, and got an update on how his recruiting was going heading into the summer one-day college camp season.

 

Cole, the Tritons had a great season last year going 12-2. How did the season go for you?

“It was fun. I liked it a lot. We had good senior leadership. Every week was very business like. We went about it very serious. We joked around and goofed around, but we had a common goal. I thought that was really cool how we came together and that was fun.”

How does San Clemente look heading into this season?

“We look pretty good. Obviously we are losing some key players that were seniors. Our juniors that are coming back are solid. I think we’ll go far again.”

What is the strength of this year’s football team?

“Definitely the O-line, they are looking really good. Our quarterback is good, Jack Sears. He was a sophomore last year. He played wide receiver too. We have good running backs coming back to. Our defense is looking good too. We have some guys going both ways. Last year we didn’t have guys going both ways. I think we’ll be solid.”

What are your strengths on the field as a tight end?

“I feel like I have solid hands, I can create space with linebackers and safeties. I’m working on my blocking, that’s something I can improve on. You can always get better. I can get better at running routes and catching as well.”

What are your goals for the 2015 season?

“My goals are to win games and to have fun. I don’t have any personal goals. I’m not shooting for touchdowns or catches. That stuff will come with working hard. I definitely want to win and get into CIF again.”

Will your role expand next year? Will you be one of those guys playing both ways?

“Yeah, hopefully I can. I want to play some defensive end or outside linebacker coming off the edge. I think that’ll be fun. I’ve been working there a little bit. I think they’ll get me some rotation in there.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last season?

“I got first team all league and my coach said he tried to push it for all CIF but we had too many from our team who had already gotten it. I guess somebody else got it, but it’s all good.”

You have offers from Boise State, BYU, Nevada, Utah, and Utah State what other schools are showing interest in you?

“Nebraska, USC, Washington, ASU, and Stanford.”

What unofficial visits have you gone on so far?

“Utah State, BYU, and Utah, and USC as well.”

How did the visit to Utah go?

“It was good. I liked it a lot. Coaches were really cool. They have good facilities. One of my buddies’ brothers plays up there so we got to hang out with him and stay at his place for the night. It was a good time.”

How about the BYU visit, how did that go for you?

“We got to tour all the school stuff as well and the academic aspect. They did a whole program for us with the nutritionist, the sports psychologist, and all these other people pretty high up with BYU to show us around. I really liked that one as well.”

How did the unofficial visit go at USC?

“We went as a team, with a couple players from our team, four, or five, or six of us. We watched spring practice and then toured the facilities. That was really cool. I liked that a lot.”

USC is the only school that you’ve visited that has not extended an offer yet. Do you plan to go to one of their camps this summer?

“Yeah, they told me to go to their camp. I’ll probably end up going to their camp. I don’t know when it is. I’m also planning on going to Stanford. They’ve been hitting me up a little bit.”

What other camp invites have you received?

“Oregon State, San Jose State – I can’t think off the top of my head who else.”

When you talk to the coaches what are they telling you they like about your game?

“That I run well and catch the ball well. They are telling me how I would fit in their system as a tight end.”

Of the different offenses that you’ve looked at based off the offers and interest which offenses do you see yourself fitting in well with?

“Depends what I want to do as a tight end. Nevada uses their tight end a lot in the Pistol and play action, so if I wanted to do that that then I would probably get a lot of catches. BYU is a more traditional tight end with the hand on the ground, get off the ball and grind and then you get the passes later. I like all my options. I’ll do anything really.”

What is your time frame on making a decision?

Yeah, I want to make it before the season starts but if I don’t have a clear feeling where I want to go I won’t force it.”

What will factor into which college you choose to attend to play ball?

“A lot of things. Educational, for sure, cause you can’t play football forever. That’s important. The atmosphere. The location is important. The football team. I think all the teams do well at competing within their conferences. I haven’t narrowed anything down I’m just keeping my options open and trying to look at the pros and cons of all the schools.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for the college camps?

“Spring ball just started so we have practicing three times a week and lifting. Not through our team, but I’m doing some training for speed and agility and that’s about it. Sometimes on the weekend our team will get together and we’ll go throw and run some routes but besides that not much. I’ve been playing basketball in the offseason.”

What position do you play for the varsity squad?

“Its changed, my freshman year I was more of a 2 or a 3. Now that I’m bigger I’m playing a 4 or a 5.”

What is your style like on the court?

“I don’t know. I’m physical because of football. I feel like I’m a pretty good defender, I have a good shot. I’m not going to cross anybody up my handles are not that good. I’m a post guy that will get in your head and get physical.”

What has been your most memorable moment in high school football?

“Going to the CIFs last year, but unfortunately we lost.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I like being with the boys on the field and coming together as a team and working really hard. Knowing the hard work is paying off when you start getting W’s on the stat sheet. That’s my favorite part. I like competition.”

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: San Clemente High School; No. 14 Cole Fotheringham