Posted: Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:43 AM - 11,515 Readers

By: Jason McDaniel

This postseason has played out like an extended audition for Dawson quarterback Darian Lazard.

The senior standout committed to Utah as an athlete, but by leading his Eagles deep into the playoffs, he's proving he can help a team win as its field general when it matters the most.

“Hopefully it does, but if it doesn't I'm just a football player,” Lazard said. “I love playing football. I love being out on the field, and whatever I can do to help the team win is fine with me.”


Plenty of choices

Lazard's recruitment began a few weeks into his junior year. The first school to offer him a scholarship was Houston, but several showed interest, including Baylor, Kansas State and Iowa State.

Utah's offer came a couple of months after Houston's. Lazard chewed on it a while, but after the Utes beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and finished at No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll, he was sold.

“I sat down with my family and we talked about it and Utah just seemed like the place to be at that time — real family-oriented and they stress grades and graduating,” Lazard said. “That was a big part of it because it's not just about football.

“You have to get your education.”

Lazard is hoping his includes time under center, but the most likely position he'll land at right now is slot receiver. He says he was told he could also be used as a defensive back and kick returner.

“Everybody likes the athleticism, and he's so versatile,” Dawson coach Eric Wells said. “He can play receiver or DB or quarterback, and wherever he goes and wherever they put him they're going to be better for it.”


QB pipeline

Utah's already better for having Houston-area players at QB the past four seasons, which bodes well for Lazard's chances of taking the reins.

It was Baytown Lee's Brian Johnson who led the Utes to their Sugar Bowl win and the only perfect record in the nation last season. He finished his three-year career as the winningest QB in school history.

This past season, North Shore's Terrance Cain transferred to Utah from Blinn College and led No. 23 Utah to a 9-3 record and Poinsettia Bowl berth, throwing for 1,624 yards and 11 touchdowns.


What's next?

And after leading his second-year varsity team to the Class 4A, Division I state semifinals this past weekend, Lazard could be next.

“If you would have asked me last year I would have said he's going to make a heck of a receiver for somebody because he's so fluid, he's fast, he can jump, he understands what's going on, and playing quarterback has helped him understand about routes, coverages and stuff like that,” Wells said.

“But this year if somebody took a shot at him at quarterback I wouldn't be surprised. He throws a good ball, he buys time with his athleticism, and he's thrown for over 2,000 yards, so it's not like he doesn't have a good arm.”

photography by Bob Levey

*  Story Contributed by: Jason McDaniel