Eric SorensonBrophy College Prep is banking on Marques White to be a quick study. While the all-state safety perfects his craft in Broncos’ secondary, he’s also shadowing head coach Scooter Molander on the other side of the ball this spring in hopes of becoming BCP’s new starting quarterback this fall.
Brophy fumbles. Next play- Marques White ‘19 picks Rattler and returns it for a score. Brophy leads 45-21 with 7:06 left in the 3rd quarter.
— Brophy Sports (@brophysports) November 5, 2016
“I never played quarterback until eighth grade,” White said to Sports360AZ.com. “I’m a little rusty at quarterback but I know I can still do it.”
According to Molander, both he and White broached the topic of him trying out for quarterback at around the same. The reasoning for the added duties is pretty simple according to the long-time head coach.
“He’s such a great athlete, we want to get the ball in playmakers hands,” he explained. “He’s the full package.”
White certainly proved that in the back half of the BCP’s secondary registering five interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He also tied for the team-lead in fumble recoveries (three) and was fourth in tackles with 66.
Marques White (Brophy) is a sophomore this year. The highlighted games were against VERY good offenses. Don’t be surprised if he blows up. pic.twitter.com/mTAHw8ssJy
— AZ Varsity- Football (@AZHSFB) April 7, 2017
Now he’s competing on the other side of the ball with a number of other players looking to step in for steady graduating senior Matthew Ryan who only threw four interceptions in 12 games in 2016.
While the transition to offense hasn’t been perfect, White has been aided by the guidance of Molander who played the position himself at Corona del Sol and Colorado State. He also had a brief stint in the NFL and spent several years in the Arena Football League before deciding to coach the position instead of play it.
“It’s phenomenal,” White said of his quarterback tutor. “I know last year our quarterback did very well and the year before that. I know his teaching is very helpful for the quarterback spot.”
If White, an excellent student in the classroom, can win the starting spot, he’ll become the second recent Brophy player to turn the feat of playing both safety and quarterback. Cade Knox had nearly 6,000 total yards and 55 touchdowns as BCP’s quarterback from 2013-16, as well as seeing some time in the secondary.
“I did watch Cade Knox,” White said with a little grin. “He was a good role model to look at. He did very well on both sides.”
White and the Broncos are hoping history repeats itself the next two years.
