Sayville 4-Star QB Jack Coan in Rarefied Air in New York Heading into 2016 Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When the 2016 high school football season comes to a close, Sayville High School quarterback Jack Coan could leave a legacy unmatched by any other but still one-game short of his goal.

Since his freshman season, Long Island has been abuzz about this 6’3”, 190 pound, quarterback slinging the ball around the yard for the Golden Flashes. Coan has been a player since Day 1 and jumped on the recruiting map as a sophomore completing 195 of 327 for 3,431 yards with 40 touchdowns. He followed up his sophomore season by expanding his skill set further enticing college recruiters passing for 2,499 yards with 36 touchdowns. The big jump in his game came on the ground where he started to emerge as a true dual-threat rushing for 1,275 yards off 164 totes with 17 additional scores in a spread offense.

Adding to his New York folklore are the honors he has achieved over the past two seasons earning All-State, All-Long Island, All-County, won the Boomer Esiason Quarterback Award, and earned All-Metro Player of the Year for both his sophomore and junior seasons.

Coan was dialed in throughout the 2015 season leading Sayville to a 12-0 record and a Long Island Championship. If the Golden Flashes can win the 2016 Long Island Championship, he will be the first starting quarterback in the history of his school to lead his team to back-to-back titles. What may haunt the entire Class of 2017 Sayville team is how the 2014 season ended. After going 11-0, they lost 40-35 in the championship game to Lawrence, just five points or one play away from possibly posting a three-peat.

Through the adversity of a tough loss, the Lawrence game has made Coan a better quarterback and even more committed to self-improvement in the pocket. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Jack to ask him about his junior championship winning season, his offseason workout plan, and got an update on the recruiting news front where he has 11 scholarship offers to date.

Interview

Jack, you guys had a tremendous season in 2015 finishing 12-0. How did your game evolve from your sophomore season to your junior year after losing in the title game a year ago?

“I’d say I became more of a leader. I took control of the offense and team helping lead us to victories on and off the field. I ran for more yards than I did during my sophomore year. My arm strength improved as well. I believe I improved in every aspect of game by the end of my junior season.”

What were some of the things you worked on to improve upon after your sophomore year that came through during your junior season?

“I really improved on my running skills and it paid off. I got into the weight room and got bigger, stronger, and faster.”

After all the attention, accolades, and a Long Island Championship, what is your motivation heading into your offseason workouts for the 2016 season?

“Just to try to repeat our success from last season. No Sayville team has ever gone back-to-back. We have a special group of seniors going out. That’s my goal, to give the team another championship.”

What are your strengths on the field? What makes you a dominating quarterback at the high school level?

“I feel like I see the field very well. I read defenses really well. I get the ball to the right spot and I’m an accurate passer. I have good arm strength when I need it.”

In the spread offense you air it out a lot, how far can you throw the ball on the fly?

“Honestly I don’t know. I haven’t tried to throw it as far as I can in a game or practice yet.”

What was your best game in 2015, against which team, and why would you consider that game your best?

“I’d say the last game of the season in the championship game (beat Plainedge 59-15). I did a good job of leading the team. I was on point all game and I ran the ball well. I was the first player to pass and rush for over 200 yards in the championship game.”

I’d say that’s a really good game. We talked about what you worked on heading into your junior season and your motivation for your senior campaign, what are you going to work on in this offseason to try to ensure Sayville goes back-to-back next season?

“I’m really going to work on everything. As a quarterback you have to keep on improving your footwork and arm strength. No QB is perfect. No QB has a perfect passer rating. I want to be the best all-around quarterback I can be.”

Which schools have extended offers to you so far?

“Boston College, West Virginia, Syracuse, Rutgers, Stony Brook, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, Miami, Maryland, and Indiana.”

Are there any schools that have not extended an offer yet that are showing interest in you right now?

“I’m not sure. I have spoken to a lot of teams in the past but it is a dead period right now.”

Of the schools that have offered you, which ones are pushing really hard to forge that relationship with you trying to get your verbal commitment?

“All of the schools that have offered stay in touch. A couple of coaches got fired from some of the schools so that changes things a bit.”

I know you’ve been on several unofficial visits to schools like Michigan, Wake Forest, Maryland, Stanford, and Central Florida. In general, when you take a visit to a school what are you looking for or at during that visit as you do your own personal evaluation of each program?

“Whenever I take a visit I’m trying to get the feel of the campus and the atmosphere of the campus. I like meeting the coaches in person. It’s better than talking to them on the phone. Each coach is different in their styles. I like seeing the players too. I like to find out how they work out and how they go about everything day in and day out.”

You’ve taken a few unofficial visits already, do you have any future visits planned or any one-day college camps in mind that you would like to attend?

“I’m not sure about attending college camps. My plan is to go to a lot of the schools that have offered me but I’m not sure which ones yet.”

Do you have a timeline in mind on when you would like to have your verbal commitment over and done?

“Not really. I think when the time is right I’ll know it. I’ll talk to my family if I feel like I’m ready to commit. I’m not going to rush into anything.”

Is there a college or NFL quarterback that you model your game after or perhaps one that you feel your game is very similar to on the field?

“I’m not sure if my game is similar to other quarterbacks. Every QB is different and how they go about playing the position. I strive to be like Tom Brady (New England Patriots), Its crazy, he’s 38 and still the best QB in the league.”

Do you play any other sports for Sayville?

“I play Lacrosse. I was committed to Notre Dame in ninth grade but I decommitted for football.”

I like to find out how recruits are doing in the classroom. Do you have a GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“I’m not sure what my GPA is right now. I’m ranked high in my class. I’m taking four AP classes and I’m towards the top of my class.”

What do you want to major in when you go to college?

“I’m not sure yet. I have not decided on that yet.”

I’ll get you outta here on this one. What is your favorite part of playing football?

“The comradery and the team atmosphere. The highs and lows the team goes through, the bond that is created, and all the hard work that goes into the season. No greater feeling in the world than that.”

Jack, thanks for your time today and good luck with your offseason workouts.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Coan family; Jack at Michigan

Photo credit: Coan family; Jack at Rutgers with family

Photo credit: thesayvillenews.com; No. 17 Jack Coan