JUCO route: PHS senior chooses junior college as path to Division I

PALMER - Throughout his prep career, Jake Heun has charged toward his goal of playing football at the highest level of football he possibly can. With aspirations of not just playing at the Division I level, but contributing, Heun is choosing a path many of the top players in college football have traveled.

The Palmer High School senior is going the junior college route. Heun has committed to play for City College of San Francisco next season.

&#8220I'm going to a JUCO instead of going out to the Midwest and playing Division II, or going and walking on at one of those (Division I) schools,” Heun said. &#8220I get another year (to play) instead of sitting around redshirting.”

Heun, a first-team all-state linebacker in each of the past two seasons, had received a solid amount of interest from programs on several tiers of the college football ladder. Programs ranging from the smaller NAIA schools to Division I programs, such as Washington and Washington State, were interested.

&#8220He had some very nice Division II offers. But that wasn't the right fit for him,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said. &#8220He wants to try to get a scholarship at a really high level. He wants that next level.”

Heun sent the City College of San Francisco coaching staff a highlight tape, and they were immediately interested. He said his family has friends in the area, and he had heard CCSF annually had a pretty good junior college program. Each year the school has several of its prospects sign National Letter of Intents with Division I programs in the Pac-10, such as Washington, Washington State, California-Berkeley and Oregon.

&#8220My plan is to try and keep in touch with the guys from UW, WSU,” Heun said.

Heun had the opportunity to meet members of the Washington and Washington State coaching staffs at football camps prior to his senior season. Heun played against numerous other Division I prospects at the camps.

&#8220I went down to the combines, and thought I can play with these guys,” Heun said. &#8220Coming out of Alaska, all you ever hear about are guys going to Valley City and Bemidji State.”

Valley City State, an NAIA program in North Dakota, and Bemidji State, a Division II program in Minnesota, have become two of the biggest draws for Alaska football talent. Valley City State currently has nine Alaskans on its roster, including Heun's former teammate Mike Weber.

Bemidji State currently has seven Alaskans on its roster, including former Colony standout Kyle Coffman.

Heun thrived at the middle linebacker position in Palmer's defensive scheme, but could play the inside or the outside in college. He also played fullback and tight end on offense. But Heun said he intends to stick on the defensive side of the ball.

Talking to Palmer's defensive coordinator, Keith Armstrong, Heun said his skills combined with his size are probably best suited for an outside position in the CCSF linebacker corps.

Man coverage is a focus in the Rams' defensive scheme, Heun said. At PHS, Heun's main responsibilities were to stop the run, and rush the quarterback. Heun said he feels comfortable adjusting to a defense with more of a focus on pass coverage.

Christiansen said it will be an adjustment for Heun, who's favorite thing is to &#8220just tackle.” But the longtime Palmer head coach does not see any reason why Heun can't make those adjustments.

&#8220He's shown the ability to read (offenses) beyond most high school kids,” Christiansen said. &#8220It just takes some football refinement.”

Heun is one of a handful of Palmer's class of 2006 who could have the opportunity to play college football. Fellow senior Steel Tubbs has already signed a letter of intent to play at Montana Northern next fall.

Wide receiver Devon Conroy and lineman Tory Johnson could also find opportunities, Christiansen said.

Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz can be contacted at sports@frontiersman.com.