Sleeper athlete has one offer

Sleeper athlete prospect Nelson Gammage (5-11, 185, 4.5) is playing quarterback for Compton (Calif.) Centennial because of his athleticism and his ability to make plays, but he will more than likely end up playing defensive back on the D-I level, but he does get the ball out on time and to the right guy.

“Nelson is tough,” Centennial head coach Eric Scott said. “If somebody would take the shorter quarterback, he could do it. He could play for a college that runs the spread.”

Gammage is one of the reasons that Centennial long thought of as a losing program has turned it around and is now 6-3 heading the playoffs for the first time in years.

“Nelson can do a little bit of everything,” Scott said. “He can throw the ball. I didn’t want him at quarterback, but he is the kind of athlete that I can make into a quarterback and make the kind of throws you can see on tape.

“That says a lot about Nelson,” Scott said. “There’s not many players who can do what Nelson does for us.

Gammage also plays defensive back and returns punts for Centennial.

“Nelson is very smart and though, I think he can play quarterback for some schools, I think he will end up as a defensive back,” Scott said. “He has that killer instinct.

“We just throw him back as a punt returner and tell him to go get the ball,” Scott said. “He has skills that you can’t teach.

“Nelson has thrown for a ton of yards,” Scott said. “(Fast rising wide receiver) Kevin Smith has over 1,000 receiving yards alone.

“Nelson has an offer from Colorado and I haven’t really put him out there yet,” Scott said. “Once word gets on him, he will definitely have more scholarship opportunities.

“Nelson is one of the smartest kids on the team,” Scott said. “His ability to retain information is amazing. He works hard and he will do whatever I ask of him.

“Because he is so smart and one of the better athletes on the team,” Scott said. “I can put him at quarterback and he can make throws that guys, 6-5 or 6-6 can make. He makes those kind of throws that pro style quarterbacks throw.

“That being said, I see him as a defensive back,” Scott said. “When I first got here, Nelson was a linebacker, but the kids told me he can throw, so I told him he’s our quarterback and let’s get started. He just started picking everything up really fast.

“I have seen him play defense so I have him play safety and even some corner for us,” Scott said. “He just a phenomenal guy. He can do it all.

“Nelson is ready to go,” Scott said. “All you have to do is look at him and you can see his athleticism. He can play and has the grades.

“Just the ability to do the things that he does, are not easy,” Scott said. “That is a testament to what type of athlete and what type of student he is.”