Drew Naquin is a class of 2021 recruit from Hahnville High School in Boutte, La. The 6’2 185 pound quarterback has a quick release with no real wasted motion. He has the ability to extend plays with his feet outside the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. When protection breaks down he isn’t afraid to tuck the ball away to pick up additional yardage. Naquin tells me has benefitted greatly under former offensive coordinator and now Head Coach Daniel Luquet. The quarterback knows that he will have to step up big time in his senior season, and that the Tigers have the athletes to go a long way this year. Naquin tells me he has a 220 pound bench press, a 235 pound power clean, and a 445 pound squat. Naquin currently has a 3.5 GPA and a 25 ACT.
When did you start playing football, how old were you?
I started playing football as soon as I could, so when I was five years old. That was the youngest we could sign up for recreation football. So as soon as we could me and my dad went out and got me a set of shoulder pads and a helmet, and I started playing. I played for the Mimosa Mustangs from when I was five until I was about thirteen.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I played pretty much everything you could think of until my eighth grade year of middle school. I played travel basketball until my freshman year of high school, I played just recreation baseball until eighth grade. I never grew too accustomed to playing baseball. I ran track as soon as I could in middle school, and I’m still running track to this day.
Did you always play quarterback or did you play any other positions growing up?
Growing up I played a ton of positions. I didn’t start playing quarterback until I was around twelve. So going into middle school, when I was asked which position I had a preference for, I chose quarterback. Up until that point I had played linebacker, running back, center, I mean I had played pretty much everywhere.
Going back to last season, what were the goals you wanted to accomplish?
The thing about me was I only really had one goal. I wanted a championship so bad. My freshman year, we were so close. We got to the big game, and we kind of fell apart. That has stuck with me, even now. Everything else, as far as personal accolades, recruiting, it didn’t bother me. I didn’t care about that stuff, I wanted to win for me, and I wanted to win for the guys I grew up with. That has been, and I think that will always be the driving force for why I play football. I never want to feel that feeling again.
Speaking of driving force, what motivates you the most?
My answer to this is probably different from most. I think most people will say aggression or love of the game. But, for me it’s about self-improvement. I’m addicted to just bettering myself, and I find that on the football field you are surrounded by the coaches, which I am at school, and the guys I am. It’s a perfect environment for me to go into the weight room or on the field, and show how hard I can work how much I can put on my plate. Just show how much better as a person and athlete I can be every day. I wake up at five thirty to go to school and it’s always about being the best version of myself. I think that football is the best sport and the best thing to do that with.
Who would you say some of your biggest influences are?
I think Coach Luquet is going to be arguably the biggest influence in my life as far as a coach goes. I think that in the small amount of time that he has been in my life, I think that we have been together for about a year now, he has made such a positive influence. I think more than any other high school or middle school coach ever. I think it’s the approach he takes, and the professionalism in which he displays. It has fueled a desire that I haven’t had in a long time. He has gotten me excited about football, and I couldn’t thank him enough for that. So my biggest influence is Coach Luquet and I don’t think it close with anyone else.
Who would you say is your favorite NFL player?
Again, I got a pretty quirky answer for that one. Most people would say the Baker Mayfield’s or the Russell Wilsons. Those guys are great and all but, a guy that I most kind of resonate with is Gardner Minshew of the Jacksonville Jaguars. I guy who is really traditional, he waited his turn, and once he got his opportunity he really stepped up to the plate, and knocked it out of the park. That’s a guy that I can relate to, and I can personally resonate with. I got a couple of jersey to show for it too.
At the end of this season, what would you want your coaches and teammates to say about you?
I want them to say one of two things. I always want to leave a consistent legacy that, my teammates can agree that, no one works harder than me. That no one held themselves accountable like I did. I don’t want there to be any confusion as to what kind of worker Drew Naquin was. I hope to lead by example every day I am out there. I also hope that they remember that they never had to get on Drew about being on time, or being in classes, or having a good attitude at practice or how I did anything in life. I want to be remembered on and off the field as a person who did things the right way, and worked hard. I think if I do those two things correctly and consistently everything else should fall into place.
Did you want to add anything that we didn’t cover?
I’m really excited about this upcoming season. It’s something that me and my senior class has worked for since we were 13 and first started knowing each other. It’s all culminating to this point. All the circumstances are in our favor. We have a coach, who, we are really excited playing for. All the weapons we need on offense are there. We have chemistry in the offense itself. Things are just looking up and we are just really excited.
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