Class of 2020 quarterback JW Hertzberg emerged out of nowhere last year to throw for over 2000 yards and 24 touchdowns, leading his Southside Christian Sabres to a 10-2 record.
Just a rising junior, Hertzberg is already garnering interest at the next level.
“Last month the offensive coordinator of Wake Forest came to our school to visit with me and observe me throwing with some of my receivers,” Hertzberg said. “I have since received a personal invitation for a visit.”
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Miami and Oklahoma State, among others, are also planning visits to Southside Christian to talk to the Sabres’ signal caller.
At 6-3, 180 pounds, Hertzberg isn’t overly imposing from a physical standpoint. But while his arm strength is not yet at the elite level, Hertzberg’s accuracy and football intelligence are turning heads.
Still just a sophomore, Hertzberg knows how he needs to improve.
“This offseason I am working mostly on strength and quickness and adding weight,” Hertzberg said. “The strength for velocity on the ball on my throws and the quickness for presence and movement.”
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According to him, he’s also gotten more accurate this offseason, especially in the short and intermediate passing game.
Hertzberg’s strength lies in his intelligence and in-game awareness. Southside Christian runs a collegiate offense, so it is up to Hertzberg to make correct reads and some in-game decisions. While most high school offenses simplify the game by asking the quarterback to make only one read before tucking the ball and running, Southside Christian head coach Mike Sonneborn gives Hertzberg the option to read the entire field. Sometimes the young signal caller goes through three or four progressions before throwing to the open receiver.
For a quarterback to have success in such a system, he must have the abilities to diagnose coverages, look off safeties and feel the pass rush.
Even as a sophomore, Hertzberg excelled at all three.
With visits planned to strong academic schools like Wake Forest and Princeton, Hertzberg’s off-field activities are nearly as important as his performance on it.
One of his favorites is his work with children with special needs through the 12th Man Outreach program.
“My offensive line coach is one of my good friends and he runs this camp that he invited me to in Miami so that he could spread it to the SC area,” Hertzberg said. “It’s called the 12th man. This program is absolutely life changing for anyone who participates in it. The 12th man is for the kids and adults who aren’t able to play the game of football but they have the same love for it that football players do.”
The organization will have a camp at Southside Christian on April 28. The experience is invaluable, not just for the kids, but for Hertzberg as well.
“These special needs children bring so much love & joy to a person just by smiling,” he said. “It is honestly the best feeling in the world.”
Hertzberg has two more years to improve as a high school quarterback and team leader. The way things are going, he won’t need that long to become one of the state’s best.
If you have a player in mind to be featured on PalmettoPreps.com, contact writer Will Helms on Twitter at @whelms21 or via email, will.helms21@gmail.com
Follow JW on Twitter at @jwqb1
