“I gotta compete. I’m not the best one out here just yet. So I have to compete to be the best.” —Sophomore wide receiver Jacobby Dinwiddie
The Mountain View Toros football program is trying to re-establish their swagger under first-year head coach Mike Fells.
A big part of the reason for Fells’ success can be attributed to Dinwiddie who has burst on the scene in his first year on varsity. Playing opposite Arizona State signee Curtis Hodges has helped Dinwiddie’s targets but the playmaker, who patterns his game after Odell Beckham, is simply making plays.
“He’s only a sophomore, he’s got two more years,” Mountain View starting quarterback Wheeler Harris said to Sports360AZ.com with smile. “He runs like a four-six [40-yard dash]. He’s got wheels. He’s a stud.”
The trio of Dinwiddie, Hodges, Harris and bruising running back Orion Baker have benefitting from Fells’ spread offense he brought with him from his prep coaching time in Ohio.
“I’m so happy,” Dinwiddie said to Sports360AZ.com after his seven-reception, 210-yard, three-touchdown game against Red Mountain. “Me and Curtis on both sides. We’re both getting the ball with plenty of yards and plenty of touchdowns.”
Truer words may have never been spoken.
Dinwiddie leads the 4-3 Toros in catches (43), yards (635) and receiving touchdowns (five). He has leaned on and looked up to the 6-foot-7 Hodges for advice both on and off the field.
“He’s been my mentor this whole time,” Dinwiddie said. “He’s helping me with my routes, my grades, everything. I’m just so grateful and thankful to have him on my team.”
Fells is certainly grateful for Dinwiddie who reeled in the game-winning touchdown from Harris late in fourth quarter last week at Red Mountain.
“He’s a young man that has all the tools,” Fells explained. “There’s no doubt he’s a Division I-type athlete. What he’s got to work on is his grades because he’s got all the talent in the world.”
