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Goal No. 16: RESPONSIBILITY. You are responsible for your own performance.
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#16 Jesse Ertz |
Position: Quarterback Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
If this entry seems somewhat familiar, it's because it's nearly identical to last year's version. That's what happens when you unfortunately blow your knee on the first play of the season and are still a huge unknown a year later.
Jesse Sisco Ertz (b. Dec. 7, 1994) was one of the top prep quarterbacks coming out of high school in 2013.
He earned the starting nod for the 2015 season opener, but suffered a season-ending injury on the first play from scrimmage. He will compete for the starting quarterback job again in 2016 and was voted a team captain.
Ertz earned Kansas State's Red Raider Award in 2013 as the top contributor on the scout squad and saw action in four games in 2014, rushing for 46 yards on seven attempts, including 26 yards against Oklahoma State.
He rushed once for 5 yards last year against South Dakota before suffering his unfortunate injury. Prior to that, the consensus was that he had run away with the competition for starting quarterback. I expect the same this season.
Ertiz was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior year for Mediapolis High School and was an All-American honorable mention selection by Parade.
He 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.
Ertz was named 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 Most Valuable Player.
Ertz 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 may be eligible for a medical hardship after 2017.
Ertz also was a first-team all-conference and third-team all-state performer as a sophomore, and a three-year letter-winner in track. He won a state championship in the 4x100 in 2012.