Jack Dreyer (77), who didn't play a down of football until his freshman year in high school, accepted a scholarship to Stanford Tuesday.
Photo by Samuel Stringer
When
Jack Dreyer entered
Serra (San Mateo, Calif.) as a lanky, 6-foot-3 freshman, he heard the Padres had a pretty good football program.
So, despite never having played the sport, he gave it a whirl.
Jack Dreyer, Serra
Photo by Scott Dinn
Good choice.
Just three years later, the now 6-8, 290-pound offensive tackle gave Stanford coach David Shaw a verbal commitment on Tuesday, picking the Cardinal over Cal and a host of Ivy League schools.
"I went out to Stanford's practice today and met with coach face-to-face," Dreyer said. "He offered and I accepted."
He had offers too from Arizona State and Colorado, among others according to
247Sports, but Dreyer, a superb student, jumped at the chance to play for the perennial football power and academic juggernaut.
"Stanford has the best of all worlds," Dreyer said. "This feels absolutely awesome. … Growing up in their backyard, they were always my No. 1 choice."
But back as a freshman, it was probably the furthest thing from his mind.
"I just wanted to try it," he said. "Serra was well known for its football. It's the best decision I could have ever made and I haven't looked back."
He credited the entire Serra coaching staff led by head coach Patrick Walsh, who doubles as the offensive line coach.
Dreyer spent two years at the lower levels learning the game before making the varsity team as a junior. What a season it was.
The Padres set a West Catholic Athletic League record for total yards and won their first Central Coast Section Open Division title.
Dreyer was left off the All-WCAL team, which seemed to make him hungrier. He caught the attention of recruiters in the spring and is ranked the 91st top offensive tackle in the country by 247Sports and the 103rd top recruit overall in California. Look for his rankings to rise.
