'Make things happen': No pressure too big for Super 11 Bishop Kenny QB James Resar
Big-game pressure gives some athletes nightmares.
Bishop Kenny's James Resar thrives on it. For him, the pressure what drew him toward the quarterback life in the first place.
"It's all on me," he said. "Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't go well, but it's in my hands and I've got to make things happen."
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He's got the nerves to handle the tension. The throwing arm to fire passes over the secondary. The speed to dash out of trouble.
With that kind of skill set, Resar joins the Times-Union's Super 11 for the 2023 season, the annual list recognizing Northeast Florida's highest-rated recruits. He's the ninth Super 11 selection from Bishop Kenny since the honors began in 1980, and the third Crusaders quarterback selected after Kevin Gilbride (1997) and John Wolford (2013).
Resar said he grew up trying to build his game with Aaron Rodgers as his model. Then, a little later, Joe Burrow. Either way, he's a winner, with eyes on leading the Crusaders to their deepest postseason run since Wolford 11 years ago.
MAGIC NUMBERS
Resar passed for 1,812 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2022 regular season, to go with 494 yards and 11 touchdowns as a runner.
But the numbers aren't the main thing that landed Resar a lasting place in Bishop Kenny lore, not after he led the Crusaders to a district-clinching 14-13 victory over Bolles last October. The win was the school's first against rival Bolles for 45 years.
"It's rare to have somebody that's had that much experience and is that talented of a player as James," Bishop Kenny head coach Tim Krause said. "It means a lot. I think our kids rally around him and they know what he's capable of."
Resar said he's always had speed, but his legs really hit the accelerator when he reached his sophomore year. He owns a district track championship in the 100-meter dash, and that's where the other magic number comes in.
During March's FSU Relays in Tallahassee, he set a personal best of 10.67 seconds — a time quick enough to win a regional title in most parts of Florida.
Now, pass rushers see him. Now, they don't.
"It makes my job so much easier," said offensive lineman Nate Politano. "It's the best thing I could ask for."
NOT GETTING GREEDY
When it's pressure time for quarterbacks, athletic tools are valuable. But good decisions are priceless.
Resar took notice. Last year, he slashed last year's interception count to five, and boosted his completion percentage to nearly 65 percent.
"For me, sometimes I could get a little greedy," said. "When the 5-yard check-down is there, sometimes just taking that can help get my completion percentage up."
Beyond Bishop Kenny, he's contributing to a growing trend among top Jacksonville recruits: Like more than a dozen others since 2010, he's planning for Big Ten football after committing to Iowa, where he said he appreciated the family atmosphere. Upon signing, he would become the second Crusader on the Hawkeyes' roster, following center Michael Myslinski in the class of 2021.
But before his first step onto the Kinnick Stadium turf, Resar has unfinished business at Bishop Kenny.
"I think this should be our best year," Resar said. "We have a lot more talent and we've really proven that we can win with confidence."
QB James Resar
School: Bishop Kenny
Height/weight: 6-4, 200.
Recruiting status: Committed to Iowa.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: James Resar, Bishop Kenny: 2023 Northeast Florida Super 11 football
