September 12, 2008
BY TAYLOR BELL
You said you prefer to play receiver, and coach Lexie Spurlock projected you as the next Chris James. But in two games at quarterback, you rushed for 457 yards, passed for more than 150, ran for two touchdowns, passed for four and caught one. Changed your mind? I am more comfortable playing quarterback. You can control the game. I like the feeling of controlling the game and leading the team to victory. I can control the game by making choices. I like all the things I can do at quarterback, the decisions to run or pass or catch or hand off.
Are you surprised by your early success? Yes. I figured to be a receiver this year. I moved to quarterback in summer camp because the coach wanted the ball in my hands. My reaction? Now I have to work even harder. I put it in my mind that the coach wants me there, so I have to make the best of it.
Why Morgan Park? I grew up in Washington Park. Hyde Park is my neighborhood school. But a lot of my old grammar-school teammates went to Morgan Park. I went to see some games at Gately Stadium and was impressed by the plays they ran and the camaraderie. It was a win-win situation. I didn't want to go to a school where you couldn't get exposed in athletics.
Future goals? My dream is to be an NFL player, but my backup plan is to be an electrician.
Goal for this season? I want to take my team to state and win a state championship. We want to be the first Public League team to do it.
Goal for your senior year? I want to work hard in the offseason and in the summer. I need to lift and run and improve my passing to be more accurate. I want to play my hardest in football and have colleges look at me and offer a scholarship. I'm best suited to be in a spread offense, like Juice Williams at Illinois, where I can run and pass.
College aspirations? I have three schools in my head: USC, Oregon and Ohio State. I like USC's winning tradition, Oregon's offense and green-and-yellow jerseys and Ohio State's tradition, offense and coaching. I hope those schools will be interested in me eventually.
The next time your cell phone rings, whom do you hope it will be? A coach from one of the three schools I just named.
Superstitions? I eat four pancakes with syrup and butter the night before every game. I did it when I ran track, and it seems to help. I was winning. I thought it was because I had a good meal, so I do it with football.
The most fun you have in football? Scoring a touchdown. When you score a touchdown, it tells you that all the work you put in has paid off.
Favorite athlete? In basketball, it's Kobe Bryant. He can carry his team. In football, it's Randy Moss, a great wide receiver. If I had to pick a quarterback, it would be Peyton Manning. He makes great decisions. He can take apart a defense.
Cubs or White Sox? I don't like baseball. I don't even watch them on television. It seems boring.
How do you relax? I lay down on my bed and watch television. I never want to miss Will Smith in ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.'' I've seen every episode. And I watch ESPN's ''SportsCenter'' a lot.
