HS Football Player Spotlight: Golfing QB Colten Meyer has Marana on par for great season

Every week this high school football season, in collaboration with ESPN Tucson’s weekday morning show “Spears & Ali,” we’re spotlighting notable performances from the previous week. Up next: Marana quarterback Colten Meyer.

Only two Southern Arizona high school football programs can say they’ve appeared in “The Open,” Arizona’s premiere postseason bracket with Class 6A, 5A and 4A teams: Marana and Salpointe Catholic.

Both teams played against each other to kick off the high school football season in August, with Salpointe holding off Marana 20-18.

“We made a lot of mistakes that first game,” said Marana quarterback Colten Meyer. “It’s the first game, so mistakes are common. It propelled us going forward and we honed in on the little things. It’s been great.”

Since Marana’s season-opening loss, the Tigers have won four straight games. Most recently, the Tigers beat Buena 52-25 behind Meyer’s 303 yards and four total touchdowns.

Meyer’s top target was junior receiver Jaxsun Sharp, who had four catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Sean Roebuck, who had six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. Roebuck is the younger brother of former Marana star Dezmen Roebuck, the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year and winner of the Ed Doherty Award last season. The older Roebuck is a freshman at Washington and playing for former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch.

“Last Friday night was electric,” Meyer said. “I feel like we had a great week of practice and the offense went out there and executed the game plan pretty good. It was great to see all my receivers eat. I had completions to (six) different receivers, so it was great.”

The Tigers are adding reinforcements this week — and more members of the Meyer family in Colten’s younger brothers. Salpointe transfer wide receiver Clayton Meyer and linebacker Carter Meyer — twin brothers who “look nothing alike,” said Colten Meyer — will be eligible to play after sitting out the first five games of the season due to AIA transfer rules.

The older Meyer brother is in his last season as Marana’s starting quarterback. In 16 games at Marana, Meyer has thrown for 5,268 yards, 47 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on a 72.3% completion rate. This season, Meyer has a 17:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His 1,581 yards this season ranks third in the state of Arizona — 86th nationally.

Leading up to Marana’s road battle with Ironwood Ridge on Friday, Meyer joined “Spears & Ali” on ESPN Tucson to talk about Marana football and his passion for golf.

After throwing to Dezmen Roebuck for two seasons, how is it throwing to a variety of new receivers this season?

A: “It’s amazing. We had Dezmen Roebuck last year and it was a big loss, but we have his brother and then we have other big names, like Jaxsun Sharp and my brother is returning this week. It’s been great.”

How is Sean Roebuck as a receiver?

A: “He’s a great and reliable receiver. I can throw it over there and he’s going to come down with it every time. He’s been phenomenal to start the season.”

What did it mean to lead Marana to its first-ever appearance in “The Open” last season?

A: “It was a great honor. That team last year was special. That Open, it was great. It was a good test for our program, knowing that we can play with those big dogs. It was a great game. We didn’t come out on top, but it was still fun.”

How is the culture under head coach Phillip Steward?

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A: “He’s been at the highest levels, so he’s been around great coaches and then he brought it back to Marana. He runs a tight ship, but it’s great for the players.”

How is it being cousins with former Arizona State quarterback Trenton Bourguet, ASU wide receiver Coben Borguet and BYU quarterback Treyson Bourguet?

A: “It’s been great seeing their success. I’m trying to piggyback off that and keep it rolling in the family. It’s been amazing.”

What are coaching points that Trenton Bourguet and Treyson Bourguet have given you to help excel at quarterback?

A: “You just have to be a leader at the quarterback position. The quarterback position is not an easy position. It’s probably the hardest position on the field, so they always instilled being a leader. You always gotta lead your players every week.”

Who’s a quarterback that you look up to?

A: “Probably Aaron Rodgers right now. Huge Steelers guy. ... Just the gunslinger ability that he has, it’s great.”

What are your hobbies outside of football?

A: “Golf. That’s my big hobby. When it’s the offseason, I golf almost every day. I work out every day, golf and practice in the afternoon. That was the schedule all offseason.”

How did you get into golf?

A: “My grandpa. He got me into golf. All of my family golfs now. We have a big tournament in the summer called the ‘Tata Chile Scramble.’ It’s with all of our family and it’s amazing.”

What’s your favorite course to play golf in Tucson?

A: “Probably the home course, Crooked Tree. I get to play there for free, so I’m going to use that every time.”

If you could golf with anyone, who is in your group?

A: “Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick and Bryson DeChambeau.”

What about football players?

A: “Troy Polamalu, Antonio Brown and Megatron (Calvin Johnson).”