Jake Heaps, Nick Montana have an elite connection
Jake Heaps and Nick Montana, whose friendship and rivalry began at the Elite 11 quarterback camp in July, took different roads to become two of the nation's top college prospects, but will share the same stage at Friday's Skyline vs. Oaks Christian game.
By Mason Kelley
Seattle Times staff reporter
When Nick Montana walked over to get his room key at the Elite 11 quarterback camp, he wanted to know one thing: "Who's my roommate?"
Everyone at the table laughed.
"I knew exactly who it was," said the quarterback from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, Calif.
This week Jake Heaps told a similar story.
"All of the ESPN and Nike guys had big smiles on their faces," Skyline's quarterback said.
Both seniors had a feeling they would be paired together at the camp in July. They were, after all, linked long before they ever met.
They became fast friends during the camp, moving beyond the uncertainty of rumors surrounding their college recruitment — Heaps chose Brigham Young over Washington, while Montana picked the Huskies.
Now it is only fitting that the two top-tier prospects carry that connection into the fall. After months of preparation and two regular-season games, Heaps' Spartans, ranked No. 9 in the nation by ESPN RISE, and Montana's Lions, ranked No. 6, square off on the Sammamish Plateau in a nationally televised game at 7:04 p.m. today.
"It's just ironic how it all shakes down," Heaps said. "It's a good story line. Our team is focused on what we need to do to win the game."
Back at Elite 11, Heaps and Montana weren't sure what would happen when they first met.
"A lot of people tried to make it out like we were enemies or rivals who were mad at each other with all the press that was going around Washington and the commitments," Montana said.
For Montana, Heaps was just another teenager who shared his passion for football. However, their friendship can't mask their competitiveness, which has created plenty of friendly banter surrounding the matchup. The lighthearted trash talk began at the camp.
"So Jake says you guys aren't even going to get into the end zone," someone would tell Montana, relaying a message from Heaps.
"I don't think they're going to get past the 50-yard line," Montana would reply.
After the camp, the friendly taunts continued through text messages, which they still trade about once a week.
"It's been fun having this game between us," Heaps said. "A lot of people are trying to make a big deal of the whole situation, and we're just having a good time with it."
These two have plenty of parallels.
"To me, it is the best quarterback matchup in the country this year," said Tom Lemming, a recruiting analyst for CBS College Sports.
Lemming called Heaps "the best precision passer in the country." He has a strong, accurate arm and, while he can't run like Michigan freshman Tate Forcier, he can pick up a first down with his legs.
"Overall, if I had to pick a guy right now as my quarterback out of the whole country, I would take Jake Heaps," Lemming said.
Montana isn't far behind, cut from a similar mold. He is a passer who already reminds some of his father, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana.
"Obviously he's got the blood lines and he's got a lot of his father in him," Lemming said. "But also, he's exceptionally productive after one year."
Montana's famous father feels it's time for Nick to move beyond his last name. The three-time Super Bowl MVP no longer does interviews about his son.
"He's on his own now," Montana said by cellphone this week.
Both quarterbacks are considered a bit undersized — Heaps is 6 feet 2, Montana 6-3 — and they are both winners, a combined 46-0 as high-school starters.
The biggest difference between them is experience. It's polish (Heaps) against potential (Montana) for two players who took different roads to this point.
Heaps has been honing his game since fifth grade, while Montana grew up wanting to play linebacker.
"I just really liked defense," Montana said.
But during a break at school one day, he was throwing a football with friends, and genetics took over.
"I liked having the ball in my hands every play," he said.
Heaps has taken a lot of heat in his home state for his decision to play at BYU next season.
"It was really hard for me to leave Washington, my hometown and a school that I've dreamt of going to since I was a little kid," Heaps said. "I still, on TV, root for the Dawgs every time I get to watch them.
"BYU was the right place for me and where I needed to be. That's where I felt in my heart I needed to be, and I know Nick felt the same way [about UW]. Things happen for a reason, and I think it's great that we get to meet now and develop that relationship."
Jake Heaps and Nick Montana, whose friendship and rivalry began at the Elite 11 quarterback camp in July, took different roads to become two of the nation's top college prospects, but will share the same stage at Friday's Skyline vs. Oaks Christian game.
By Mason Kelley
Seattle Times staff reporter
When Nick Montana walked over to get his room key at the Elite 11 quarterback camp, he wanted to know one thing: "Who's my roommate?"
Everyone at the table laughed.
"I knew exactly who it was," said the quarterback from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, Calif.
This week Jake Heaps told a similar story.
"All of the ESPN and Nike guys had big smiles on their faces," Skyline's quarterback said.
Both seniors had a feeling they would be paired together at the camp in July. They were, after all, linked long before they ever met.
They became fast friends during the camp, moving beyond the uncertainty of rumors surrounding their college recruitment — Heaps chose Brigham Young over Washington, while Montana picked the Huskies.
Now it is only fitting that the two top-tier prospects carry that connection into the fall. After months of preparation and two regular-season games, Heaps' Spartans, ranked No. 9 in the nation by ESPN RISE, and Montana's Lions, ranked No. 6, square off on the Sammamish Plateau in a nationally televised game at 7:04 p.m. today.
"It's just ironic how it all shakes down," Heaps said. "It's a good story line. Our team is focused on what we need to do to win the game."
Back at Elite 11, Heaps and Montana weren't sure what would happen when they first met.
"A lot of people tried to make it out like we were enemies or rivals who were mad at each other with all the press that was going around Washington and the commitments," Montana said.
For Montana, Heaps was just another teenager who shared his passion for football. However, their friendship can't mask their competitiveness, which has created plenty of friendly banter surrounding the matchup. The lighthearted trash talk began at the camp.
"So Jake says you guys aren't even going to get into the end zone," someone would tell Montana, relaying a message from Heaps.
"I don't think they're going to get past the 50-yard line," Montana would reply.
After the camp, the friendly taunts continued through text messages, which they still trade about once a week.
"It's been fun having this game between us," Heaps said. "A lot of people are trying to make a big deal of the whole situation, and we're just having a good time with it."
These two have plenty of parallels.
"To me, it is the best quarterback matchup in the country this year," said Tom Lemming, a recruiting analyst for CBS College Sports.
Lemming called Heaps "the best precision passer in the country." He has a strong, accurate arm and, while he can't run like Michigan freshman Tate Forcier, he can pick up a first down with his legs.
"Overall, if I had to pick a guy right now as my quarterback out of the whole country, I would take Jake Heaps," Lemming said.
Montana isn't far behind, cut from a similar mold. He is a passer who already reminds some of his father, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana.
"Obviously he's got the blood lines and he's got a lot of his father in him," Lemming said. "But also, he's exceptionally productive after one year."
Montana's famous father feels it's time for Nick to move beyond his last name. The three-time Super Bowl MVP no longer does interviews about his son.
"He's on his own now," Montana said by cellphone this week.
Both quarterbacks are considered a bit undersized — Heaps is 6 feet 2, Montana 6-3 — and they are both winners, a combined 46-0 as high-school starters.
The biggest difference between them is experience. It's polish (Heaps) against potential (Montana) for two players who took different roads to this point.
Heaps has been honing his game since fifth grade, while Montana grew up wanting to play linebacker.
"I just really liked defense," Montana said.
But during a break at school one day, he was throwing a football with friends, and genetics took over.
"I liked having the ball in my hands every play," he said.
Heaps has taken a lot of heat in his home state for his decision to play at BYU next season.
"It was really hard for me to leave Washington, my hometown and a school that I've dreamt of going to since I was a little kid," Heaps said. "I still, on TV, root for the Dawgs every time I get to watch them.
"BYU was the right place for me and where I needed to be. That's where I felt in my heart I needed to be, and I know Nick felt the same way [about UW]. Things happen for a reason, and I think it's great that we get to meet now and develop that relationship."
