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#17 Jesse Ertz |
Position: Quarterback Previous College: None Projection: Redshirt Status: On Scholarship |
Jesse Ertz is an intriguing, heavily decorated dual-threat quarterback prospect out of Mediapolis High School.
He was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior year for Mediapolis and was an All-American honorable mention selection by Parade.
Ertz broke the Iowa high school state record for most touchdowns in a career (98) and ranks fifth in state history in career passing yardage (7,317). He registered more than 9,000 total yards and 130 touchdowns in his prep career.
He was amed the 2012 Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a first-team all-state selection by Iowa Preps after leading Mediapolis to a state runner-up finish and a 13-1 record, and honored as the All-Hawkeye Player of the Year.
A two-time Des Moines Register and Iowa Newspaper Association first-team all-state honoree, Ertz twice was named to the all-district first team and was the district's 2012 MVP.
He was named to the Iowa Sports Connection's first-team all-state squad in 2011, was named the All-Hawkeye Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and was an Iowa Preps Elite second-team all-state selection as a junior.
A three-year letter-winner in basketball, Ertz was a first-team all-conference selection and a second team all-state performer by the Iowa Newspaper Association in 2012.
He also was a first-team all-conference and third-team all-state performer as a sophomore, and a three-year letter-winner in track. Ertz won a state championship in the 4x100 in 2012.
The accolades might leave you breathless, but don't become too overhyped. Ertz is almost a stone-cold lock to redshirt this season after sustaining a knee injury in the high school football playoffs, one game shy of the title.