Tommy Eveld [6’ 5” 195 lbs | 2012 Jesuit QB]
Drawing Interest From: Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Delaware, Florida International, Iowa State, Jacksonville, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi, Presbyterian, Purdue, South Florida, The University of Alabama Birmingham, Central Florida
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Tommy Eveld has the size you look for in a college quarterback. At 6-feet 5-inches he is tall enough to see over the offensive line. Although a pure pocket passer at 195 lbs Eveld is a load to bring down. He moves well in the pocket and always keeps his eyes downfield.
Eveld’s arm strength and accuracy are both above average. He won the 2011 Golden Gun Accuracy competition at the ESPN Rise Elite 11 Quarterback Camp. He also was the long-ball champion at John Kaleo’s QB Academy. The accolades point directly to Eveld’s effectiveness as a passer.
One of the most notable things about Eveld, when you eliminate his passing ability, is how quickly the quarterback goes through his progressions. From under center Eveld gets to his back foot efficiently in a three or five step drop and is comfortable looking at his first, second, even third options as he gets set in the pocket.
Eveld participated in the inaugural Blue-Grey All-Star Classic where he was 6-for-9 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Blue-Grey Combine Director and quarterback coach JJ Koski spoke highly of Eveld’s football intelligence. Koski said that Eveld reminds him of Tom Brady in the sense that he has a keen eye for picking up tendencies in a defense and even points things out to coaches before the coaches themselves see them.
To Koski and Eveld his lack of recruitment is a mystery. In his senior season Eveld threw for 2326 yards, completing 65-percent of his passes (159-for-246), and tossed 20 touchdowns. The Jesuit QB finished the season 10-1 as a starter.
In the season opener Eveld entered the game at halftime where he would nearly lead the Tigers to a comeback against the eventual 8A State Champion Plant Panthers. Eveld completed 13 of 22 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown in that half; he also ran for one score. He would go on to throw for 100-plus yards in seven more games. He threw for 200-plus yards in three games and tallied one 300-plus yard passing game.
So why isn’t a college sticking its nose out and offering the quarterback who, everyone agrees, is full of potential?
And no, his grades are not a concern. While it seems to remain a mystery there is still time for a college to swoop in and snag one of the biggest under-the-radar signings in this class.
“I’m just sitting back, being patient and waiting on something to happen,” Eveld said of his recruitment. “I have no idea [what’s missing]. It might be that I didn’t play enough junior year, but that is out of my control and the only thing I can do is show up and perform and then the rest is on everyone else.”
Eveld did just that. His final 2011 line reads: 159-for-246 (65% completion) 2326 yards, 20 TDs and 10 INTs. He carried the ball 57 times for 149 yards and 3 TDs.
Eveld doesn’t know where he’ll end up. He currently holds a gray shirt offer to Western Kentucky and a walk-on offer to the University of South Florida.
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Eveld’s Accolades:
Big County Preps Player of the year finalist
One of the top 21 uncommitted 2012 prospects in Tampa Bay
Hillsborough County East/West All-Star Game (Team Captain)
Three-time MaxPreps Player of the Game
Brighthouse Sports Network “Player of the Game” vs. Tampa Catholic
ESPN Rise Orlando Elite 11 Golden Gun Accuracy Champion
John Kaleo QB Academy Strong Arm Long Ball Champion
Red Bull Florida Game Breakers 7 on 7 (Jefferson High School) Champion
Red Bull Florida Game Breakers 7 on 7 (Jefferson High School) MVP
Named All Hillsborough County by the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times
Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleBennettUT
