2010 QB Garoppolo has skills

Rolling Meadows (Ill.) junior dual threat quarterback prospect Jim Garoppolo (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) was minding his own business as a sophomore playing linebacker on the varsity for the Mustangs and head coach Doug Millsaps when his head coach decided that Garoppolo had the makings of a potential signal caller for the Stangs in 2008. With over 1,300 yards passing and all sort of accolades later, Garoppolo has indeed made an impressive transition to quarterback. Get to know this latest underclassmen prospect to watch here.

"I really never played quarterback until last season," Garoppolo said. "I played the position once during my freshman year. Our starting quarterback back then got hurt in the middle of a game, and the coach asked if anyone knew how to play quarterback. I told him I did and I finished the game and that was the last time I played the position until last season. It was an interesting transition to say the least, but Coach Millsaps had confidence that I could make the change. Overall it worked out pretty well for both of us and as long as we won games and I contributed than that's all that really mattered to me."

Garoppolo, who was named as an all conference and all area performer during his 2008 junior season, talked about his latest recruiting news.

"I've been getting a lot of mail lately. Schools like Penn State, Illinois, Northwestern, Ohio State, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and a few other Big Ten schools have been sending me the most mail for sure so far. I grew up a fan of both Florida and Notre Dame but I haven't received nothing yet from either school. I'm also playing basketball this winter for our team at school."

Garappolo is also a very strong student in the class room.

"I'm basically an A and B student. I haven't taken the ACT test yet but I'm looking to do that in the spring. I'm thinking about majoring in Engineering in college. I would say that the player I most admire is Brett Favre. I'm a big bears fan and it hurts me to say that, but Favre is just a great player even if he played for the Packers. I really respect him as a football player."

Garappolo is looking forward to a much smoother senior season at quarterback for the Mustangs.

"I was able to learn a lot in one season last year, and I really feel that I've just started to show what I can do. I know I need to learn so much more, but I'm excited about getting a chance this off season and this summer."