Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County
On Grossmont High School’s freshman football team three years ago, Tommy Donovan played more linebacker than quarterback.
A year later, entrenched at quarterback, Donovan’s JV season was limited to four games when the season was cut short by a lack of players.
Donovan was in line to be the Foothillers’ starting QB last season as a junior … until Hudson Herber transferred from Coronado and beat him out.
In the seemingly eternal wait to fling passes dressed in blue and gold, Donovan was challenged again this season. Hudson’s brother, Josh, transferred from Steele Canyon to compete.
Nothing against the Herber family tree, but Donovan admitted he grew tired of the brothers moving in, trying to take his job.
And yet he told his father: “Dad, be patient. You’ll see.”
In this case, son — not father — knew best.
In his only season as Grossmont’s starting varsity quarterback, Donovan put together some staggering numbers, completing 289 passes for 4,134 yards and 53 touchdowns.
The yards and completions rank fourth all-time in San Diego Section single-season history. The TDs rank second.
Said Ted Donovan, Tommy’s father: “No one saw it coming but himself.”
Donovan will play one more high school football game come noon Saturday, when he suits up for the South squad in the Alex Spanos All-Star Classic at Mira Mesa High School.
Regarding traits his son possesses in addition to the skill of throwing an oblong-shaped ball far and accurately, Ted Donovan said, “I would say he’s patient and determined.”
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Donovan looks like a quarterback.
“He can stand in there and throw it with the best of them,” said Granite Hills coach Kellan Cobbs, who is serving as the South head coach on Saturday.
Cobbs has seen Donovan up close and personal. In Granite Hills’ 90-46 win over Grossmont, when the Eagles set a section record for most points in a game, Donovan tossed six TD passes.
Anthony Lawrence, Donovan’s coach at Grossmont, knows a thing or two about quarterbacks. He started for four years at Grossmont and ranks third all-time in section history for yards passing and completions. He owns virtually every passing record at the University of San Diego.
“I don’t know that I’ll ever stand on a table supporting a player as much as I would for Tommy,” said Lawrence, whose team averaged 37.6 points per game and finished 5-7. “He made everything go. He’s really, really tough, smart, accurate, knew where to go with the ball. He can get stuff on the ball when he’s uncomfortable.”
Donovan likely will have to begin his college career at the junior college level. Mesa College and Grossmont College are already inquiring.
Donovan said he learned much about football and life playing for Lawrence.
On football: “He taught me a lot about coverages. He’s our strength coach and helped me lift weights. He helped me with mechanics. Pretty much every part of my game.”
On life: “He talks a lot about being a good person in a lot of aspects of life. Walking around, picking up trash, being nice in the community. Him being a good person rubs off on all the players.”
Not that it helps convert third-and-12, but Josh Herber said Donovan is “a good kid.”
“He’s a quiet and humble person,” said Herber. “You never hear him talking down on anyone.”
The San Diego Section is loaded with talented quarterbacks. As for who’s the best, Donovan gives the nod to Lincoln’s Akili Smith Jr. He watched Lincoln’s 34-27 CIF Southern California Regional win over Newbury Park, when Smith threw for 272 yards and three TDs and scored on a 29-yard run and said: “That game, he was next level. You can tell he’s going to Oregon, and he’s going to be good.”
Donovan is more blue-collar than flashy. He said he has no idea what his major will be in college, but as for a career he could see becoming an electrician. The Chargers’ Justin Herbert is his favorite quarterback. His favorite pass to throw: the go route.
“Hucking it downfield,” he said.
As for becoming an electrician, Lawrence thinks it will be some time before Donovan worries about how he’ll pay the bills.
Said the Grossmont coach: “He’s going to have a long career.”
Originally Published:
Your Local SEO and Digital Marketing Experts in San Diego County