Southview High School QB commits to BG

Austin Valdez, a quarterback who will be a senior at Sylvania Southview High School, has verbally committed to join the BG football team.

Last season he led the Cougars to a 9-2 record, a Northern Lakes League title and a Division I playoff berth. An All-Northern Lakes League second round choice, Valdez completed 108-of-188 passes for 1,820 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Valdez also carried the ball 130 times for 513 yards, an average of 3.9 yards per carry.

NCAA rules prohibit the BGSU coaching staff from commenting on players until they sign a national letter of intent in February.

Valdez said there were a number of reasons he committed to the Falcons.

"I think the coaches there are great, and when I met the players I liked them a lot," Valdez said. "Shaun Joplin is from Southview and he talked to me about going to BG.

"I wanted a chance to play quarterback in Division I, and when Bowling Green offered me I wanted to take advantage of that."

Southview coach Jim Mayzes is a big fan of Valdez.

"He's a great kid, and he's a great athlete who has an incredible arm," Mayzes said of Valdez. "He loves the game of football.

"I had all three of his brothers -- Pacho, Bubba and Chad -- and they were all tough linebackers on defense. Austin brings that spirit and toughness to offense."

Austin Valdez said he tries to temper that defensive spirit when he is at quarterback.

"All three of my brothers were leaders on defense," he said. "I try to lead as much as I can, but at quarterback you have to be composed."

Valdez joins Brush High School linebacker Patric Hannon as players who have verbally committed to BGSU (click here to read comments from Hannon and his coach).

Comments

[Fred Smith]

If it's in the fodder, it's official

[John_Wagner]

Fred: Too funny.

Do want to make a point about this, though ... I don't just reprint what the recruiting services say. I wait until a player (or his high school coach) confirm the decision.

Not that I don't trust the recruiting services ... ah, who's kidding who here? I don't trust them. They are often right, but they aren't 100 percent right. I am held to the standard of a person confirming his intentions to me directly.

And having said all that, it is a VERBAL commitment, so a player can decide to do anything until they officially sign in February. But that holds true for Ohio State, Michigan, Toledo and ANY college football team.