CALEDONIA — Spencer Unruh isn’t going to rush things.
Like many high school student-athletes, Unruh plays multiple sports. If it is football season, football is his favorite sport. The same can be said for basketball and baseball when it comes time to play those sports.
But if forced to choose, Unruh said football would be the sport he would play. This season could play a big role in determining how much longer Unruh gets to play football or another sport. Entering his second year as starting quarterback for the Caledonia High School football team, Unruh has the potential to make a name for himself with college coaches.
“I just really would like the opportunity to play anywhere,” Unruh said.
Unruh admits he hasn’t received any scholarship offers and he hasn’t compiled a list of his favorite schools. When pressed, though, Unruh said the members of his family are fans of Alabama, with Mississippi State probably his second team.
“That would be awesome,” Unruh said when asked what it would be like to play for Alabama. “I definitely would have to work really, really hard because they expect a lot. I definitely would have to put on some more weight.”
Unruh said the recruiting process hasn’t started for him in football or baseball (he also plays basketball at the school), but he hopes he will get an opportunity to play a sport in college.
Last season, Unruh showed potential as a quarterback in helping to lead Caledonia back to playoffs for the first time since 2005. Unruh threw for 1,628 yards and 13 touchdowns (11 interceptions) and had a 53.8 completion percentage. He also rushed for 175 yards and five touchdowns. His contributions helped the Confederates finish 6-6.
“I learned a lot having to lead the team,” Unruh said. “I tried to step up and just do good for the juniors and seniors and earn their respect. I think I did pretty well.”
This season, Unruh, who has grown to 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, likely will take on a bigger role because Caledonia will have to find a way to replace running back Brandon Henry, who rushed for 1,853 yards and scored 26 touchdowns.
But Caledonia coach Andy Crotwell feels the Confederates have plenty of weapons to go to a no-huddle, spread attack and to utilize Unruh’s skills at quarterback. He also feels Unruh can be a bigger threat running the football.
“If you look at the film from the scrimmage to game 12, there was marked improvement,” Crotwell said. “Certainly the skills were there, but even throughout the season I felt his arm got stronger. As the season progressed, we asked him to do more throwing the football and running the football. Even though we were a tailback-driven team last year, he still played a very key role for us and won us several ballgames with his decision-making, his accuracy, and running the football.”
Unruh understands he will have more responsibility on his shoulders. He said he “loves” playing in no-huddle systems and believes in the weapons the Confederates have at running back and at wide receiver that will enable the team to play that quickly.
As for his game, Unruh feels his arm has gotten stronger from last season and that he and his teammates had good showings in seven-on-seven camps in the offseason. He hopes last season can be a building block for future success.
“We want to try to make it back to playoffs,” Unruh said. “This year we want to make it past the first round and as far as we can go.”
If that happens, Unruh just might attract the attention of a few college coaches.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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