Southwick One Of West's Best

In a very strong and deep year for quarterbacks out West, Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley quarterback Joe Southwick is one of the top passers in all of Northern California and the Pac-10 is very aware of him...

Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley quarterback Joe Southwick (6-2, 183) is one of the top passers in a strong group from the Bay Area this year.

Southwick is starting to see interest in him grow as he eagerly awaits his first scholarship offer.

“Washington State has talked to my head coach and Pac-10 wise, I’m talking to Oregon State, Cal, Oregon and Washington,” said Southwick. “Outside of the Pac-10, schools like Northwestern, Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, UConn and San Diego State have sent me letters.”

Southwick said several of the schools interested in him want to watch him throw during the spring.

“That’s definitely what I’m starting to hear a lot of,” said Southwick. “I know they want to see you throw as a quarterback, since it is a huge investment in the program. They want to get you to come to a camp. So I’m going to be very active in hitting up all the schools I’m very high on the player board and definitely going to go to their camps.

While he says its still early, the schools that are standing out to him include Cal, Oregon State, Virginia, Boston College, Washington State, Maryland and Washington.

“I’d say Cal is my favorite,” said Southwick. “I’ve grown up in Danville, which is 30 minutes from Cal and being a Cal fan, and having that possibility of playing there, it would definitely be awesome.”

If an early offer comes, and one from a school he’s high on, would Southwick consider committing early?

“That is definitely one thing to talk about with my family,” said Southwick. “If I have an offer before next football season, I’d basically like to commit right before the season starts. I’m going to plan on holding out and go to the all the camps, and see what happens from there.”

Aside from the various college camps, he’s planning to be in Las Vegas next weekend for the New Level/Scout Pass Camp, then he’ll also be at the Nike Camp at Stanford and the Elite 11 in Berkeley.

In January, Southwick attended the U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio.

“It was a good experience for me and I was happy with how I did,” said Southwick.

In looking at a school, Southwick said several things will be taken into consideration.

“The education is important to me,” said Southwick. “And I want to make sure I’m playing for a players coach, a guy who will be there the 4-5 years I am. I’d definitely like to end up in the Pac-10, because conference-wise, they have some great teams in it and the opportunity to play in it would be great.”

During his 2007 junior season, Southwick threw for 3,165 yards on a 63% completion rate, threw 35 touchdowns and ran for three of them after leading Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley to the CIF-NCS 3A and Section title.

Academically, Southwick has a 3.67 and took the SAT last weekend.