College coaches tend to seek and recruit athletes, but also leaders.
Players who can power a program ahead or, in the case of Jeremy Roderick, help start one from scratch.
Knowing his junior-year football season was in danger of being canceled because of COVID-19 concerns, Ignacio’s Swiss Army lineman knew that if the Colorado High School Activities Association would permit play in fall 2020 – after canceling spring sports – he and his teammates had better be prepared.
Probably not in ideal shape for the gridiron, but at least cardio-conditioned enough to grind through four solid quarters.
And thus boys’ cross-country was revived at Ignacio High School – after roughly 30 years – as an official sport. It still thrives.
“He was the one who told those boys, ‘Look, if they take football away, we’ve got to stay in shape! So we’re going to run; we’re going to get out there … and see if we can get in good shape,’” outgoing head coach Daniel Holley recalled recently.
“He was kind of the lifeline, the pulse, and the relief when something was heavy; he’d come in with something funny, well-timed,” Holley continued. “And that was fun; Jeremy was instrumental that season.”
Never expected to speed to the front in any race, but able to persevere from the rear in every race, Roderick’s personal gains made through distance running proved crucial in helping Bobcat Football record its first winning season since 2013, going 3-2 in a COVID-shortened, CHSAA Class 1A Southern Peaks Conference-only campaign.
“They were very disciplined,” football boss Alfonso ‘Ponch’ Garcia had said, “and … it worked out well for the kids.”
Back to football full-time this past fall as a senior and co-captain – chosen along with fellow 2020 cross-country converts Gabe Tucson and Tyler Barnes – Roderick helped Ignacio again, despite an 0-4 mark in SPC play, come out on the plus side of .500 in 2021 with a 5-4 overall mark.
Named first team All-SPC, Roderick would then go on to enjoy a Class 2A state wrestling championships-qualifying season in the winter as IHS’ heavyweight. Then he nearly threw the shot put far enough this spring to qualify for the state track and field championships.
“He’d be in the weight room at 6 a.m. … then practice in the afternoon,” Holley said. “That guy, he’s such an athlete; I wish him well in all his endeavors.”
Having beefed up his all-around academic/athletic résumé enough to earn La Plata Electric Association’s prestigious John Voelker Memorial Scholarship – one of two $10K prizes awarded to students interested in attending a vocational or tech school – Roderick’s endeavors have led him to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Iowa Central Community College.
“I wanted to get out of Colorado,” Roderick said, speaking from campus via phone, “and they had a fire science program and a football team. So I picked off of that.”
“Then also (after) meeting with the coaches a few times – they kind of reminded me of Ponch and (assistant coach Bill) Gwinn,” he said. “I felt like it would be a perfect place for me to be.”
Spring football at ICCC wrapped up in April, with a scrimmage in its Dodger Stadium that pit the Tritons offense against its defense, drumming up anticipation and expectations for the 2022 season.
Under head coach Jesse Montalto, Iowa Central closed out last season in December’s Graphic Edge Bowl, having won 10 straight bowl games dating to 2006 and standing 16-9 all-time in the 1978-established GEB. The Tritons’ opponent inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, was unbeaten Monroe College of New Rochelle, N.Y. ICCC prevailed 35-27 to finish 9-2 overall and ranked No. 7 in NJCAA Division 1 while the 10-1 Mustangs slipped to No. 10.
Able to rack up the sixth-most passing and 10th-most rushing yards nationally behind a line mentored by assistant coach Justice Clegg, ICCC finished second in scoring with 466 points, 42.4 per game.
Eight Tritons were named to the All-America team, including quarterback Byron Jarrett. Jarrett was named first team All-America as well as Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and will next suit up for University of Texas-Permian Basin. Committing to continue his career at Maryland, left tackle Maximus McCree was also named first team All-America, while O-liner Reggie Young earned second team honors – setting a high bar for future ICCC trenchmen.
Roderick said the coaching staff looks at him to play guard or center.
“It was either Tyler, Texas, or three (colleges) – I think – in Iowa. So I picked from those four,” Roderick said. “And this kind of gives me a big university feel, but in a small town. There’s a lot more walking than I’m used to; most of my classes are on the other side of campus … way out there.”
Already hitting the books this summer and getting two classes out of the way, Roderick said he’s set two personal goals for his first year at Iowa Central.
“I want to pass my classes with, like, a 3.0 at the lowest,” he said. “And for football, to at least start a game.”
“I need to push myself to get better,” he said. “Just got to work through the heat of Iowa! It’s not 97 degrees on a turf field; it’s more of 97 degrees with 85% humidity on a grass field.”
The Tritons season will kick off at noon Aug. 27 at home against Independence CC of Kansas, who finished 8-2 in fall 2021 and reached the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Playoffs semifinalists. Iowa CCC will then travel to Garden City CC in Kansas for a 1 p.m. clash Sept. 3.
