GALATIANS 6:9
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
2024 QB Mabrey Mettauer walked on to the field of LSU's indoor practice facility, his long blonde hair streaming down underneath the iconic gold helmet as he mentally prepared for the biggest throws in his young life.
When he entered the field, he walked through a fiery gauntlet of coaches, an endless gallery of scouts, analysts, videographers, potential future teammates and current rivals vying for the same scholarship slot, all directing their eyes upon him.
Whether he knew it or not, a microscope hovered over his every move, destined to figure out what this quarterback was made of when the lights were shining brightest.
Whispers shrouded the sidelines "is that Trevor Lawrence's brother? Does Trevor Lawrence have a brother? Who is this dood?"
Offensive Coordinator Jake Peetz was in command, following Mabrey's every move and motion, "we'll be watching you," he told the sophomore high school quarterback as he eyed the young Texas slinger with the seriousness of Week 1 vs UCLA.
As Mabrey threw the football, dropping back and executing pass after pass, sneaking up behind was Coach Ed Orgeron, studying Mettauer's vibe with a trademark broad grin about his face.
During the heat of battle, Mabrey turned around between snaps to find Jake Peetz introducing LSU's National Championship-winning Head Coach. An intense but pleased Coach Orgeron extended his massive right hand toward the sophomore, the Woodlands' QB meeting his potential college coach with his own.
Despite the amazing meeting with Coach O, this 15 year old wasn't phased and continued his strong camp, only to later find himself standing before Peetz & Orgeron holding a firm LSU offer.
"We'd love to offer you a scholarship to Louisiana State University, how 'bout that?" came Coach O's excited voice, all of Mabrey's Texas Fury teammates celebrating with some great photos alongside the Tigers' larger than life coach.
It was a surreal moment Mabrey worked hard to earn, but one he was nonetheless prepared to face, fulfilling the first steps in his calculated career vision when he performed brilliantly at the LSU skills camp. Crossing off another huge milestone by earning an offer from his "dream school", Mabrey was already years ahead of his ultimate goal.
For a young quarterback from Texas, you'd think he'd be a Longhorn through and through with an aim for Austin, or with all the Trevor Lawrence comparisons, you'd believe a love for Dabo Swinney's program wouldn't be far off.... however..... Mabrey Mettauer is his own man.
Though he's only just crossing the bridge to his sophomore year, the growing buzz around the Woodlands QB is well and truly justified.
Usually, I don't cover recruits two or three cycles removed from our current class, but once I witnessed Mettauer's capabilities or spoke to him at length as he revealed his inner motivations & ambition, I couldn't help but spread the word.
Rather than giving you my own thoughts on the renegade 2024 dual-threat quarterback, I'm geauxing to let him take the floor.
LONN: What does Tom Brady, Trevor Lawrence, Texas high school football, and an LSU offer have in common???
MABREY: Tell me!
LONN: Mabrey Mettauer!!! How are you doing?
MABREY: Hahaha I love it, doin good how bout you?
LONN: Doing great doing fantastic, young squire!
First off, I found out you love Tom Brady, but unlike Tom, you can run and he can't, so I bet you're taking the mental side of the game and passing from Tom, but as far as running the ball, who influences your running style at QB?
MABREY: You already know, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
LONN: I like that! You have a unique style of running that reminds me of how Joe Burrow ran the ball here. Have you ever thought much about going to LSU or the type of QB legacy LSU's building?
MABREY: Thank you (for the Burrow comparison)!!! It's been a dream school for me.
LONN: Living in Texas, how did LSU become your dream school?
MABREY: I love the environment and it’s not too far from home. And I love the offense.
LONN: Did you speak with Offensive Coordinator Jake Peetz about LSU's future offensive direction, as well as your place in that equation, or is this more low key for now?
MABREY: No, but those are some great questions I need to ask. Right now, I’m just grateful for my offer.
LONN: Tell us about how that all went down! Did the offer come from Coach O??
MABREY: Coach O and Coach Peetz offered me together.
LONN: How did you feel around Peetz and what was his role?
MABREY: He grabbed me when I walked in and said "I’m really glad you're here...do your thing today. We are watching you." In the middle of camp, he introduced me to Coach O and they offered me a bit later.
LONN: That is awesome man!! Congratulations!! I remember Coach Levy (from Mabrey's 7 on 7 team Texas Fury) telling me back in March he 'had a quarterback I just had to see' and he was right! It looks like LSU thought the same thing!
I noticed something in the photos taken at LSU, you're wearing LSU's iconic #7...the Playmaker's number. Was that your choice?
MABREY: I chose it.
LONN: That is big time right there...I get that's your number already, but that's a very bold, confident pick for a quarterback. What was the LSU staff, Peetz, Orgeron, Mangas, what was their reaction when you chose to rock the #7?
MABREY: They said "I don’t think we have a #7 here", so I grabbed another number which was 11. Then, I searched for awhile and they found it and said "I’ve never seen 7 in here!"
LONN: I love the confidence! You've backed it up!
As for other schools recruiting you, how well are your home state Texas Longhorns doing with you under new Head Coach Steve Sarkisian?
MABREY: Ya he told me 'he loved me and they can’t wait to watch me'.
But I’d much rather be a Tiger. I love LSU.
LONN: Well LSU loves you! Wow! Most kids are getting this kind of attention or offers as a senior...junior....you were getting this spotlight as a freshman?!?!
MABREY: Yes sir, I’m gonna be a sophomore. It’s all because of the man upstairs🙏🏼
LONN: What role does spirituality play in your life? Do you feel believing in a higher power gives someone an edge, not just football but in life?
MABREY: Definitely not because God's plan for everyone is different and I’m just trusting that this is my plan right now.
LONN: I've asked a lot of people that question and that was the coolest answer I've ever heard, you're a cerebral kid.
MABREY: My dad's a heart surgeon, I have to be smart (laughs). I do pray every day for God to close and open doors for me. To lead me where I'm meant to be.
LONN: Yes indeed and wherever it is you'll do well if you trust in your foundation. When did LSU first catch your eye?
MABREY: When I was a child.
LONN: Is that when you started loving Tom Brady?
MABREY: Absolutely.
LONN: What Tom Brady Super Bowl is your favorite???
MABREY: The Buccaneers vs. Chiefs because he was with a brand new team. And they just got chemistry with each other.
LONN: Tom Brady is a great example of what is possible, that's what I love most about him...the doubt he overcame. One thing that sticks out to me about you Mabrey?
You're very mature and thoughtful for your age, especially concerning your vision for your future.
MABREY: Thank you, I have great family support & I’m from a line of college and NFL athletes (Mabrey's brother McKade currently plays OL for Cal and just happens to sport the same long blonde 70s locks).
LONN: What kind of music are you into?
MABREY: Country and some rap.
LONN: I was thinking you'd be a country guy!
I know you're young, but I think this is an important question: What struggles or adversity have you faced?
MABREY: I started playing tackle football in the 2nd grade. I wanted to be a QB but my brother and I were always so big they put us as offensive & defensive lineman and linebackers.
I always had this desire to be QB so I could control the game, but in little league i was always too heavy to touch the ball.
In 7th grade, I started getting taller and thinner and they put me at receiver.
During basketball season, the 8th grade QB coach saw me playing and said “you have great feet.. can you throw the ball?”
Starting 8th grade, I was about 6’3 and finally got my chance to play quarterback, although I shared the position: My friend threw the ball and I ran the ball almost every time!
I had a very successful year but did not get out of it what I needed to play QB in high school.
Covid came in March of my 8th grade year. My brother and sister came home from college and we all quarantined together.
Luckily I had my brother, who is starting right guard at Cal, home to be my built-in receiver.
He got really good at running routes & I got very good at throwing the ball. My brother & my QB coach threw with me almost every day during quarantine, but I still didn’t have much game time experience. I had a goal list for the summer and I worked very hard to reach all of them!
I’ve really just been throwing the ball for a year and unavoidable circumstances gave me time to develop my skills.
LONN: How have these experiences shaped you?
MABREY: I’ve always been taught to be a goal setter. Successful people around me showed me the importance of writing your goals down. I've always written my goals on my bathroom mirror, so I see them when I get up and even when I go to bed. When I reach them, I cross it off and write new ones. I feel like this is key to my success: Goal-setting and focus.
GEAUX MABREY!!!!
GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!
LSU ODYSSEY SCOUTING REPORT:
-Mabrey has a brother at Cal, and NFL / college blood lines, he knows what it takes
-Mabrey loves Tom Brady
-elite dual threat probability
-can improve and perfect his long ball but he shows a hunger for the big play always looking for it and could become an elite deep ball passer
-smart RPO runner, elite rushing vision
-absorbs contact reminiscent of Joe Burrow
- 6'5 215
-he chose the #7 when putting the jerseys on....he's a born playmaker and when at LSU, he wouldn't shy from the big stage
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Copyright 2021 Uninterrupted Writings Inc
SHOUTOUTS: MABREY, YOU'RE A STUD! LET'S GEAUX!!!! 2024 MAY BE A WAYS AWAY, BUT WE'RE RIDING WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!!! SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO COACH LEVY WHO INITIALLY MADE ME AWARE OF MABREY'S TALENTS! ALSO A BIG SHOUTOUT TO THEIR 7 ON 7 SQUAD "TEXAS FURY", LED BY COACH GRANT!
PLEASE CHECK OUT AND SUPPORT THIS WONDERFULLY GIFTED UNIT OF YOUNG TEXAS FOOTBALLERS, SOME LIKE CHARLIE POLLARD BEING LOUISIANA NATIVES HERE
LSUODYSSEY.COM is geauxing to be keeping in touch with many of these young men, including Mabrey: check back in here to follow Mabrey and his teammates' path to Baton Rouge and potential CFP glory.