Few high school quarterbacks in Arizona have the amount of experience and success as Horizon High School quarterback Dalton Sneed. The Huskies’ signal-caller took over the reigns of the Horizon offense as a sophomore, and has not looked back.
“He’s very accurate, he’s got great feet, he’s mobile and athletic,” Horizon High School Head Football Coach Kris Heavner said. “The intangibles are what I think separates him from a lot of other high school quarterbacks. He’s a great leader, he has a great work ethic, in the classroom he excels as well. It’s just things you can’t coach.”
His career went to the next level when Heavner was hired before Sneed’s junior year. A former University of Arizona quarterback, Heavner opened up the passing game, and Sneed threw for over 3,700 passing yards and 44 touchdowns in 2013.
“With the offense that we’re running now, (Coach Heavner) opened my eyes and let me see the field a lot easier. He pretty much let me run with it and that’s led me to my success and where I am now,” Sneed said.
Sneed had a busy offseason before his senior year. While he was receiving a lot of attention from various schools, he had not received a formal offer. That is, until UNLV came along. After receiving UNLV’s offer and taking a a visit, Sneed gave his verbal commitment to the Runnin’ Rebels.
“(UNLV Offensive Coordinator Timm Rosenbach) called and just offered me on the phone just out of the blue. I hadn’t talked to him or anything,” Sneed said. “I felt their offense is so similar to ours. I felt I could be a really good fit in their offense so that was a no-brainer for me”.
And now that Sneed has made his commitment, Heavner believes that can only help his senior year.
“I did that as a senior in high school. I committed in July, pretty similar to him,” Heavner said. “This time of year, if you’re not committed, you’re still searching. On Sundays instead of watching film, on Mondays instead of watching film, you’re talking to coaches. You’re searching different colleges. It takes away from your preparation. Him committing early allowed him to do that right now so he can go out and have a successful senior season.”
With Sneed’s focus on the season ahead of him, he has thrived. He has already thrown for an average of 315 yards per game as well as five touchdowns through two games, though lofty numbers are not his main concern for his senior year.
“I want to do what it takes to win,” Sneed said. “If it takes handing the ball off every play and having our running back having 500 rushing yards, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Horizon enters Week 3 with a record of 1-1 and takes on Millennium this Friday.
