Nevada’s JUCO transfer quarterback commit is a proven winner
RENO, Nev. (BVM) – Jacob Barlage has won everywhere he’s been, even if he hasn’t received the necessary recognition for it.
The former Valley View High School quarterback led the Eagles to their first CIF-Southern Section championship in 2016 and threw for 4,186 yards to go along with 38 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter.
Despite the elite production and success, Barlage wasn’t a target of any Division I program.
“I wasn’t really heavily recruited out of high school at all; I had zero offers,” Barlage said during an interview with The Inland Sports Show. “Nobody offered me. No NAIA, Division III, nothing.
“But I was working every day.”
After graduating early from Valley View, Barlage immediately began lifting and working out at a school that would give him a shot at the next level, just minutes down the road: Riverside Community College (RCC).
An early quarterback competition quickly turned into a one-man show with Barlage at the helm.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal-caller completed nearly 70% of his passes for 2,786 yards, 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Similar to his time at Valley View, Barlage led RCC to the program’s first CCCAA state championship behind an offense that averaged 49.6 points and 520 yards per game.
Completing 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown in a 31-14 win over San Mateo, Barlage was named the MVP of the CCCAA state championship.
For Barlage, it was the snub from Division I programs that placed a chip on his shoulder and fueled a historic season.
“Every time I’m working out, I always think about all of the people that told me I was too slow or too short or whatever,” Barlage said. “I’ve just always had this little chip on my shoulder like ‘Hey, you told me I couldn’t do this and now watch what I’m going to do.’”
That chip has paid off, as Barlage received his first Division I offer from Nevada on July 24 and committed to the Wolfpack a day later.
The preseason first-team JC All-American will be a true sophomore in 2020 for Nevada with a redshirt year available. The Wolfpack lost four quarterbacks from the 2019 roster, including former Last Chance U star Malik Henry.
Barlage is one of five quarterbacks on Nevada’s 2020 roster, headlined by returning starter Carson Strong, and one of three signal-callers on scholarship.
For an accomplished quarterback who has overcome a ton and brought success to his previous stops, Barlage expects more of the same.
“You always plan to win,” Barlage said. “I haven’t lost a game in I don’t know how long and I’m planning to keep that thing going for as long as I can.”
