Brock Miller wasn’t hard to spot on the Vikings Field on Monday. The senior quarterback was wearing a red, number 17 Nike jersey while his teammates sported the school colors, navy blue jerseys with yellow print. Miller zipped passes to receivers Brandon Taylor, Kori Garcia, and Kris Comas. All signs pointed to him being the signal caller going into Samohi’s scrimmage Friday at West Torrance High.
Except that’s not the case at all.
“The quarterback job is up for grabs,” coach Travis Clark said affirmatively after practice. Plus, not only does Clark not have a timetable for announcing the starter, but he suggests that the position could be played by “committee.”
That committee includes Miller, a senior who missed last season with a broken thumb; Christian Salem, a lanky, drop-back passer who wears braces, has a slingshot for an arm, and played in a few games last year as a backup; and the newcomer from the state of Washington, sophomore Rhys Gervais.
The three quarterbacks took about the same amount of snaps in practice, perhaps as good an indication as any that Clark is serious about the “committee” business. Don’t tell that to Miller though, who said he thinks the position is his for the taking and who showed he can find the end zone, connecting with Garcia on a slant route on the first play from the 20-yard line.
“It’ll be one guy,” he said. “I will be mad if I’m not the starter.”
Gervais and Salem, both of whom are about the same size and have the same arm strength, are proving to be strong competition. Salem had one of his best showings on Monday, at one point getting a “you on fire today” compliment from Clark after a perfect spiral hit Comas in stride.
“My footwork felt good and I threw the ball well,” Salem said, acknowledging he still needs to work on his his speed, make quicker reads, and get in and out of the huddle faster. He said he feels the competition is pushing everyone to be better.
“I think it’s fun,” he said. “It brings out the best in us, since we have to work hard every day and can’t take any days off.”
Gervais wasn’t available for an interview after practice Monday, but Clark said he was just as impressed with the sophomore as his more experienced guys.
Overall, it’s no secret what Clark is looking for the most, something that he has told all three players about.
“He needs a leader,” Miller said. “We are all trying to step up and be a leader.”
