Q&A: Texas OT Jack Leyrer excited about offer
Stanford is the most recent offer for 2021 offensive tackle Jack Leyrer and the Cardinal rocketed up his list of schools.
Leyrer starts at left tackle for Highland Park in Dallas and the Scots are one of the top high school football programs in Texas and the country. They lost a classic in the state final last year after three straight championship wins.
Stanford offensive line coach Kevin Carberry began recruiting Leyrer about a month ago and the Texan shared his thoughts about the Cardinal, and what he's looking for in a school, with Cardinal Sports Report.
What was your reaction when you got this offer? And what was the reaction of your family? Was this something you were expecting or hoping for?
“We were ecstatic. I’ve been in contact with Coach (Kevin) Carberry for about a month now. I thought it might have been in the works. It was really rewarding. My whole family was excited because they know what a big deal this is to get a scholarship offer from Stanford. So many possibilities come with a degree from Stanford. Playing high-level football and getting an elite degree is what I’m looking for in a college. It’s great.”
I noticed a lot of your offers are from good schools and a lot of the schools recruiting you hard are really good schools, including Harvard. What established that as something that is really important to you?
“My parents instilled in me to get a great education. From a young age I’ve always tried to do my best in school and get good grades. It’s just a really great opportunity. I think it’s a necessity that if it’s out there for me to go and get a great degree I feel like it would be a shame to pass on something like that.”
College coaches are having to make a lot of offers right now without doing spring evaluations in person. What do you think coaches are seeing on your Hudl and what is catching their eye now that they’re spending more time watching that?
“I think they all like my abilities in the open field. My length is obviously a big thing for them. I like to play mean and that shows on my film. I think that’s one of the things they really like about me.”
It doesn’t hurt that Highland Park plays some pretty good competition.
“Yes, sir. We sure do. Texas high school football is something special.”
What effect has it had on your development to play for an elite high school program?
“Highland Park is a wonderful place to go to school. Coach (Randy) Allen and his staff have built, in my opinion, the best culture in the country. We go to work everyday for the football program and we just put our heads down and grind. It’s something special. I think everyone in the program can say they’re happy to be there because they know they’re working for something bigger. I think Coach Allen has done a fabulous job for years. It’s been great to be a part of it.”
What have you been able to pick up so far about Coach Carberry?
“I think he’s a great man, a great football coach. He has made a great impression on me. He’s really shown Stanford well and what they’re looking for. It’s a special locker room. It’s a bunch of people with the same interest and the common goal to get a great education and play high-level football. He’s really made sure to share a lot of things about Stanford and what it can do for the football players. Football allows you to do something more.”
You mentioned that at your school there is a great culture. Is that going to inform what you’re looking for when you’re looking at college locker rooms?
“Yes, sir. It’s something really special we have at Highland Park and if I can match that that would be awesome.”
Has Carberry talked to you at all about showing you the campus with a video call?
“Yes, sir. Coach Pritchard and Coach Carberry live right next together so he said they’re going to hop on a golf cart and go around the campus and do a virtual visit on FaceTime. That’s going to be cool. I’m looking forward to that.”
Obviously you want to see the school in person. Can you share what you and your family have talked about in terms of changes to visits and timeline?
“If we can get out there this summer we would love to. Stanford is a top place on my list. Definitely not going to commit somewhere sight unseen. Even if it happens to be driving up there because we can’t get on a plane and walking around the campus, I need to see places. It just depends on how this whole thing unfolds. I’d love to get out there as soon as possible.
“In an ideal situation I’d like to commit by the end of the summer. But I think it might be more drawn out. We’ll have to see.”
How do you feel about Stanford’s academic requirements for recruits?
“It’s definitely something I’m willing to take on. I don’t like to back down from challenges. Rigor is something I like. I like to be in something that I can’t just skate along and be able to do easily. Stanford is definitely a place that will challenge me academically. I want to be challenged.”
How are you handling shelter in place as a student, as an athlete and in general?
“It has obviously been an adjustment for everybody. I’m just trying to take it day by day. I do my school in the morning and I hopefully have it knocked out by 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. I go ahead and work out. At the end of the day I play some XBox and try to relax. Then I just do it all over the next day.
“It has been an adjustment. School is different. It’s something we’ve all been able to handle up to this point.
“I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bench press yesterday so that’s been good. I worked out yesterday with that. I’m looking forward to continuing my workouts with that as opposed to what I had previously, which was just a curling bar. I’m excited about that.”