Page 33 - 2020 Sollenberger

QB1: Ironwood’s Haskell comfortable in his own skin, pocket
By Leo Tochterman azpreps365.com
Will Haskell Jr. is doing quite fine following his blockers and heart.
The Ironwood senior won’t conform to the standards of others who want him to change positions. Utilizing his athletic gifts from the pocket or on the run is what Haskell prefers.
The dual threat quarterback is charting his own course, and you’re either riding with him or not.
“That lit a fire in me,” he said about his non-quarterback believers. “I just have to prove them wrong. I’m a 6-4, 200-pound Black kid who can run a 4.5 and jump out of the gym. But I’m not going to give up being a quarterback to please everybody else.”
In his college commitment video, Haskell reiterated that he isn’t a running back, wide receiver or defensive back before revealing San Diego State as his next stop.
He’s a quarterback, something San Diego State, unlike other schools, wants Haskell to play. This might also come as a surprise to others, but Haskell is also a darn good volleyball player.
One of Haskell’s mentors, Marcy Robb, Ironwood’s recently retired long-time volleyball coach, encouraged Haskell to play the sport. Track and field is often the spring sports choice for football players, but Haskell—always plotting his own path—picked volleyball.
In the process, he found a new passion as well as an advocate.
“I call her Momma Rob,” said Haskell of his former volleyball coach. “She will do anything for my success. She’s someone close to my heart and would do anything to protect her.”
Robb taught AP biology and human physiology at Ironwood.
“I pushed my team academically,” Robb said. “They also knew that if you played on my team you were part of my family. That gives me, I told them, the right to veto anything. We don’t play with education. It comes first. That’s where you find your future.”
Under Robb’s disciplined, motherly approach, Haskell evolved into a first- team All-Region volleyball player and helped his team upset the No. 1 seed in the first round of the 5A 2019 state tournament.
There’s another person in Haskell’s corner, his dad Will Sr., that’s guiding him. Will Sr. played football at Washington State.
“He (Will Sr.) always pushes me every single day to be the hardest worker,” said the three-star quarterback, who was also recruited by Duke. “To be level headed and stay humble. Don’t let the noise get to your head.”
He heard from the haters this offseason when a video of him making some acrobatic throws went viral.
Some criticized him for showing off his jumping ability while throwing the ball.
“People are always going to hate,” Haskell said. “But how are you going to take it? It doesn’t affect me. I’m a normal 17 year old playing football trying to make it to the next level, perfecting my craft and having some fun with it.
“I work so hard on and off the field, and when there are no cameras I’m in the garage lifting.”
Pound for pound, Haskell is one of the strongest players on Ironwood’s foot- ball team.
He’s also one of the most grounded kids on the team.
“He is soft spoken,” said Ironwood coach Christopher Rizzo of his quarterback. “He plays with such a swagger and command. But he’s reserved by nature. In the film room he’s a yes, sir no, sir guy. You don’t have to manage his personality.” Haskell started his high school career at Deer Valley before transferring to Iron- wood, a program that hasn’t won at least 7 games since 2011.
He could have transferred to an established Arizona power. But Ironwood’s past didn’t matter to Haskell.
He’s his own man.
“I know where I stand,” Haskell said. “I wanted to play for a smaller school and leading my guys Friday night and showing them why Ironwood High should get the pub just like any other school because we put in the work.”
Ironwood quarterback Will Haskell hears the whispers about changing positions but politely dismisses the notion. (Kevin French photo/Max- Preps)
33