Central QB Latest Addition to Bronco Pipeline

Central High senior to be quarterback Grant Hedrick has verbally comitted to attend Boise St. on scholarship starting in 2010. After Hedrick attended a camp at Boise St., and then returned with his family late last week for an unofficial visit, the Broncos offered a scholarship, and Hedrick accepted.

"No hesitation on that," Hedrick said. "I'm 100% a Bronco."

The ValCo offensive player of the year in 2008, Hedrick was also named second team all state in 4A at quarterback, after leading the Panthers to the semi-finals for the second consecutive season.

"It feels real good to get the college choice process out of the way," Hedrick said. Now I can put all my effort into my senior year."

After throwing for 2,655 yards and 31 touchdowns in his sophomore year, with 177 completions and only six interceptions in 260 attempts, Central was the season long top ranked 4A team in 2008, until eventual champion Astoria and Jordan Poyer upset the Panthers 56-35 in the semifinals, despite Hedrick throwing four touchdown passes.

Overall, in his junior campaign, the 6'0" Hedrick completed 192 of 282 passes (68%) for 3,192 yards and 42 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions, while also rushng for 15 more touchdowns and 1,326 yards on 122 carries. Hedrick also was the all-Valco point guard for the Panthers, who advanced to the basketball 4A state championship game this past winter.

"I think Boise St. is the perfect fit for Grant," Hedrick's father Shane, the Central football coach commented. "I was very excited when they started showing interest, because of the style of offense (Head) Coach (Chris) Petersen and (Offensive coordinator) Coach (Bryan) Harsin run. I'm not sure there is a better fit out there, given the program they have, and their coaching staff.

Hedrick also received an offer from the Air Force Academy, and had received interest from Western Oregon, Oregon, Oregon State, Portland State, and Washington.

Hedrick is the latest addition to what has become a pipeline of Oregon talent that has headed east to be a part of what has become one of the premier programs in the Football Bowl Series on the blue turf in Boise. Starting with former Junction City and University of Oregon player Justin Wilcox, who is now the Broncos' defensive coordinator, and continuing with Hermiston quarterback Jared Zabransky, now with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, the Broncos have repeatedly plucked players away from the northwest's Pac-10 schools.

Over the last 10 years, Boise St. has never won fewer than 8 games in a season, has won 94% of their Western Athletic Conference games, and has the greatest number of conference and overall wins of any Football Bowl Series (formerly Division  I) program in the country.

The pipeline of Oregon players also included recent graduates Jeff Lowe from Hillsboro, and Joe Bozikovich from Wilson. Oregon products currently on the Broncos roster include Raphiel Lambert, a corner back from Jesuit, linebacker Dan Paul from Barlow, Bronson Durrant, an offensive lineman from Marist, kicker Jimmy Pavel from Central Catholic, and two of the top recruits from the 2009 class, running back Malcolm Johnson from Barlow, back of the game for the North in last week's Les Schwab Bowl, and tight end Gabe Linehan from last year's 4A runnerup Banks.

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