Mission Viejo offensive lineman enjoys ASU visit
Jarrett Patterson’s decision may be a few good weeks away, but there is little doubt that Arizona State has and continues to make a strong impression. We caught up with the Diablos’ lineman who recapped his experience in Tempe and discussed his other suitors.
“This was my second time visiting,” Patterson said, “and I came with my parents on this visit. The new football facilities are amazing. The new locker room is huge and air-conditioned. The weight room is huge, and it’s very spacious. There’s going to be a 40-yard field where you can stretch and warm up before lifts. The city of Tempe is definitely a place I see myself living in. It’s a nice town with booming business. The dorms and the apartments you live in are top of the line too.
“The thing that impressed me the most was the academics. They have really good Computer Science and Kinesiology programs and those are my top two majors."
The lineman also enjoyed getting to know the Sun Devils’ head coach on a more personal level and appreciated his honesty.
“Coach Graham seems like he’s always an intense guy,” Patterson remarked, “but when we talked to him he was really laid back, joking around. They are all good coaches there and it’s definitely a family atmosphere where they care about their players. The coaches will always push them, but at the end of the day also care about them greatly.
“Even though (linebacker and high school teammate) Christian LaValle is committed there, Coach Graham told me that I shouldn’t be pressured to come just because my teammate is coming here. He said I should go to a school where I love the place and love the coaches and be part of something special. It meant a lot having him be so truthful.”
Patterson was part of a 2016 Diablos team that had one of its best seasons ever, capturing an 11-1 mark. The left tackle was part of a balanced and explosive offense which averaged 213 rushing yards and 237 passing yards per game and scored 79 touchdowns. Naturally, Patterson’s junior season performance caught the eye of ASU’s offensive line coach, Rob Sale.
“Coach Sale said that I remind him a lot of the left tackle they have starting right now (Cohl Cabral),” Patterson described. “He likes my arm length and how quick I move and adjust. He also likes how I block in space which ASU does a lot. He said I could play left or right tackle.
“I think I fit their offense well because just like my high school they run the spread, but also run the ball a lot like a pro-style offense with fullbacks and tight ends. Some sets have extra lineman as tight ends and fullbacks too.”
Patterson has ten Power 5 school offers among his 20-plus overall offers and said that aside from ASU, Cal, Washington State, TCU, and Texas are currently recruiting him the hardest. The lineman visited Cal a couple of weeks ago and is planning to visit TCU and Texas before the season starts, as well as Arizona.
“I haven’t narrowed down my list and I don’t have a favorite,” Patterson commented. “I want to make my decision before the season starts but I also want to make sure that I check out all the schools I want to. I don’t want to regret my decision and think I should have visited here or there. I want to be 100 percent solid.
“I want to go to a place where I can see myself living at after football, and see if am I comfortable there. I want to have a good school for my majors, and a school where I get along with the coaches and have a good team atmosphere.”
