Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

High School Recruiting:

How one email led to local quarterback finding college home at Navy

Derek Morefield

Special to the Sun

Cimarron-Memorial High quarterback Derek Morefield.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 | 4:24 p.m.

It was three weeks before national signing day and Cimarron-Memorial High quarterback senior Derek Morefield had no college prospects.

So, he took to the Internet and sent an email to Navy quarterback coach Irvin Jasper with his game highlights. Almost immediately, his future changed.

“He got back to me in a couple of hours,” Morefield said.

The two exchanged emails for the next half-day. Navy, who was without a quarterback commit for its 2015 recruiting class, was clearly intrigued.

Thursday, Morefield and his dad will head to Maryland for an official recruiting visit at Navy. Next Wednesday, he expects to sign a letter-of-intent.

He was recruited briefly over the summer at defensive back, but the calls from Division I schools dried up. He had interest from lower-level schools and junior colleges, but those weren’t full scholarship offers and he would have had to switch positions.

“(Navy) runs an offense that complements my skill set and my physical ability,” said Morefield, a three-year varsity quarterback who passed for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014.

“I thought I wasn’t done at quarterback. I still have something left in the tank.”

The day after sending the email, Morefield was meeting at a Las Vegas-area hotel with Navy linebacker coach Steve Johns. Johns, a former UNLV assistant, was in town recruiting a player from Bishop Gorman.

He made a great first impression.

A few days later, Johns and Jasper returned to Las Vegas to meet the 6-foot, 190-pound Morefield at Cimarron.

“They talk 10 minutes in my office, and Derek, he blew them away with everything he said,” Cimarron coach John Parcells said. “They said if Kenny (Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo) was here, they would offer him on the spot. This is the kind of kid he loves, the type of kid you win with.”

Morefield was initially told Navy would only have a spot for him if another quarterback recruit fell through. That quarterback is verbally committed to San Diego State.

But, after doing further recruiting on Morefield, Navy apparently liked what they saw. Even if they flip the commitment of the other quarterback, they’ll take Morefield at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, Parcells said. He’d play there one year and have four years at Navy.

“It is a great deal,” Parcells said. “I couldn’t be happier for that kid. I never had two coaches be that blown away sitting there talking to a kid.”

Parcells feels Morefield is a perfect fit for Navy. He’s one of the top-ranked students in Cimarron’s senior class, a natural leader and tireless worker. Last summer, Parcells gave Morefield reps at defensive back, knowing that would be the best way to a college scholarship.

“He’s one of the hardest workers we’ve had. Just a special kid,” the coach said.

Morefield also rushed for six touchdowns last season, helping the Spartans advance to the Sunset Regional quarterfinals. In 2012, Morefield passed for 1,030 yards and 12 touchdowns.

His next pass will come for Navy.

“All this happened within a week. Just unbelievable,” he said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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