Small School, Big Prospect

Most recent graduates selected to the Shrine Bowl are well-known in football circles by the time they suit up for the annual all-star game.

Take Tommy Grady. The Oklahoma-bound quarterback from Huntington Beach Edison had recruiters slobbering over themselves for the last few years.

But Terry Mermer?

Those asking “Who’s Terry Mermer” will likely be in the majority at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday when the public schools play the private schools in this year’s annual clash of Southland football talent. Mermer was the quarterback last season at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, which failed to make the Division IX playoffs.

Mermer’s next stop: College of the Desert.

Not exactly Shrine credentials, and hardly what would be expected of the quarterback for the squad that features players from Santa Ana Mater Dei and Ventura St. Bonaventure.

But talent comes in all shapes, sizes and circumstances.

“I’m impressed with him as a young man and person,” said Kiki Mendoza of St. John Bosco, who will coach the private-school team. “He’s not an arrogant, cocky kid, not a prima donna, and he wants to learn and get better. A lot of guys are like, ‘I know it all, I’m the King, watch me handle my business.’ He has the attitude of ‘What do I need to do?’

“I think he’ll be a big-time player down the road.”

Mermer passed for 2,807 yards and 24 touchdowns last season and owns all of Calvary Chapel’s passing records. He called the plays in a no-huddle offense that featured four receivers, but is unproven against high-caliber competition. His school had only 675 students and he didn’t play quarterback until his freshman year -- he went into the first practice not knowing if he was a quarterback or a lineman.

Mermer played in the Orange County all-star game last week but struggled against quality competition. He had trouble with a few snaps, fumbled a handoff, didn’t stay on his feet very well, and appeared out of his element as he completed only two of five passes for 23 yards.

But when he threw the ball, he distinguished himself.

Mermer’s first pass went through the hands of a receiver, and it was immediately apparent that he may not have big-time experience or polished skills, but he has a big-time arm. And on a 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, he really may have a big-time future.

“He just has to get settled,” said Fountain Valley Los Amigos’ Roger Takahashi, who coached Mermer in that all-star game. “This was a big game, a different atmosphere than what he is used to, but you can see his potential. He has a tremendous amount of potential.... He definitely has the arm and the presence.”

Mermer said he was comfortable despite appearances: “Everything’s a little faster than what I’m used to, but once you get going, you settle down and it’s really nothing new.”

A knock against Mermer was that he hadn’t proven himself against the kind of competition that would ease the concerns of the universities, so a community college should provide the seasoning he needs.

“You don’t have to play Division I or Division II to be a good football player,” he said. “There’s tons of players out there with the same skills as those kids, they just choose to go to a different school.”

One advantage to attending College of the Desert is that Mermer can continue to play baseball. His fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph, but he pitched only nine innings last season, he said, because of differences with his coach. He finished with a .381 batting average and 19 runs batted in.

But he really wants to play football.

“You know the old saying, ‘Diamond in the rough?’ Terry’s that charcoal,” said Jay Johnson, who coached Mermer at Calvary Chapel. “Somebody’s going to get a steal. There are some JC coaches who know that. You’ll see him in the future.”

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SHRINE CLASSIC

Saturday, 5 p.m., FSN2

at Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut

* Fast fact: The game features the inaugural format of public-school players vs. private-school players from Southern California for the 52nd Shrine game. Previously the game had formats of North vs. South and California vs. Texas.

* Tickets: $12 general admission.