Alemany’s big-throwing Metcalf is a most intriguing quarterback

David Metcalf is a 16-year-old quarterback who stands 5 feet 11, weighs 175 pounds and has an arm so powerful that his coach at Mission Hills Alemany, Dean Herrington, says, “I’ll put his arm up against any high school quarterback in Southern California.”

That kind of praise and respect deserves attention because it’s coming from a coach who helped tutor NFL quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Matt Moore at Newhall Hart and produced All-Southern Section quarterbacks every season from 1989-2000.

Arm strength, however, is only one aspect of playing quarterback, and Metcalf is preparing for a three-month summer tutorial during which he plans to watch, listen and learn under Herrington’s around-the-clock instruction.

“I hope he doesn’t get sick of me because he’s going to see a lot of me,” Herrington said.

Call it the making of a quarterback.

Metcalf, a senior this fall, hasn’t started at quarterback since the sixth game of his sophomore season when he broke his leg on the junior varsity team. He was an all-league free safety for Alemany’s Mission League championship team last season.

He doesn’t deserve to be listed on any college recruiting website or preseason all-star team because he hasn’t done anything – yet.

But there’s something intriguing about Metcalf.

Maybe it’s looking at would could be by the end of the summer.

“I’m a young one,” he said. “The doctor says I should be a little taller than my dad, and he’s 6 foot. I’m hoping it happens soon.”

Maybe it’s the fact that he can throw a football 60 yards.

“His arm strength for a 5-11 kid is unbelievable,” Herrington said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Maybe it’s his easy-going personality.

“Nothing fazes this kid,” Herrington said. “I’ve never seen him get upset. He has such an even keel, which I think is great for a quarterback. He won’t get too high when things are going well and he won’t get too down if things aren’t going well. I’ll be able to yell at him and he won’t go into a shell.”

Spend time in the weight room with Metcalf and you can detect his determination and sense of humor.

“I’m trying to put on some pounds so I don’t get crushed,” he said.

Metcalf is a leader-in-the making. Teammates are looking to follow his example in commitment, sweat and tears.

“It’s definitely all worth it since I think this season is going to be a good one,” he said. “I’m just trying to learn all the plays so I can be the best quarterback I can.”

When he walks onto the field for summer passing competitions, he’ll be hard to identify. Many will mistake him for a receiver or running back – until they see him unfurl his first spiral.

Then the respect will come.

“There’s no worries,” he said. “I’m pretty confident about my size. It doesn’t really faze me as much as some people think. I’m confident in myself.”

And so is the man who guided Alemany to a league title last season in only his second season as the Warriors’ coach. If there’s one thing Herrington knows about, it’s quarterbacks, and he’s convinced Metcalf will be ready for the challenge.

“The ball just comes out of his hand,” Herrington said. “I’m amazed that someone who’s not 6-3 can throw the ball like that. A lot of short kids throw it hard but they really have to wind up. He’s just effortless.”

Adding to the challenge is that Metcalf must be responsible for calling out Alemany’s blocking schemes when he looks over the line of scrimmage and also knowing where his receivers will end up.

“We put so much pressure on our quarterbacks,” Herrington said.

In other words, there are going to be lots of long, hot summer days ahead for Metcalf. Come fall, Alemany expects to have a quarterback to reckon with.

 eric.sondheimer@latimes.com