North Cobb transfer QB wanted opportunity ‘to really show what I can do’
Today’s Four Questions interviewee is North Cobb quarterback Teddy Jarrard, whose No. 6-ranked Warriors travel to face McEachern on Friday night in a Class 6A game. Jarrard passed for 2,647 yards and 31 touchdowns last season at North Cobb Christian and led the Eagles to the Class 3A-A Private semifinals. He transferred to North Cobb in the offseason and was 15-of-22 passing for 156 yards in last week’s 28-14 victory over Archer. Jarrard committed to Notre Dame in July. He is the No. 14 junior quarterback nationally on the 247Sports Composite.
1. What is this team’s identity that will continue to build throughout the season?
“I think our identity is we fit all the boxes. We check all the boxes as a team. We’ve got the run game, we have the pass game, and we’ve got the defense. I think we’re three-dimensional and can do everything on all sides of the ball, offensively and defensively. I think if we can get really on a hot streak going into the playoffs, I think it’ll be tough to beat us.”
2. What did you learn most from your time at North Cobb Christian, and what went into the decision to transfer?
“I got a lot of experience out of it. Playing JV as an eighth grader, starting freshman year as well as sophomore year. Just experience at the varsity level, I think I learned the most just from being able to play in the game and develop that way. Some kids sit out till their junior year and wait it out at a big school, which is completely fine. But I feel like my route has helped me a lot mentally.
“At the end of last season, I had three starting receivers transfer out. I didn’t want to leave or anything, but I was kind of forced to with having nobody returning and not really having anything to throw to. So I kind of made a business decision that I wanted to play my last two years with a good team and really show what I can do at the high school level.”
3. What made Notre Dame the right pick for you?
“Obviously, Marcus Freeman is building something special up there. Ever since I got on campus with (quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli) and (offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock), it just kind of felt like it fit me. Their scheme fits me really well and what I’m wanting to do, and it’s just a good situation overall. Ever since Day One, they’ve cared about me more than any school and really thought that I’m their guy for their program. So that meant a lot. I’m just excited for my future there. … I think it’s one of the hottest programs in college football right now. Every high school player wants to play for someone like that, like Coach Freeman, super energetic, and loves his players. He’s just a guy you can get behind, and I think that’s exciting to a bunch of players.”
4. What’s one thing that you’re trying to improve upon this year?
“Every year I want to have a super-high completion percentage and throw less interceptions every year. So, I think my goal this year is to get over 70% completion and throw under five interceptions. Obviously I want to throw for a bunch of yards and a bunch of touchdowns, but, at the end of the day, we’ve got good running backs, we’ve got good receivers, so everybody’s going to get the ball. As long as we come out with a win and I do my job and everybody else does their job, I think that’s the biggest thing. So, completion percentage and just lowering interceptions. Being smart with the football.”
— Interview by GHSF Daily intern Dylan Clearfield
About the Author
Todd Holcomb has been a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1985. He is currently co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.
