Locker (#10) puts away the baseball bats and focuses on football
The Huskies have high expectations in 2010, and the fans got an early gift from their star quarterback that shows football is priority number one. QB Jake Locker is putting his passion before money. The Washington Huskies star QB and potential #1 NFL draft pick in 2011, is exclusively going to focus on football this summer and will not train with the MLB’s Angels as originally planned. Angels’ GM Tony Reagins was under the impression that Locker would play on the Angel’s minor league affiliate team this summer. However, Locker expressed on a Seattle radio show that he intends to focus exclusively on football.
Locker was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 10th round of last year’s MLB draft. The Angles paid Locker approximately $300,000.00 for his rights (six years) assuming an NFL career didn’t work out. During spring training, Locker, an outfielder, was seen on the diamond shagging fly balls and left the impression with Reagins that he would play minor league ball this summer.
However, as the college football season hits the summer months, Locker doesn’t want baseball to interfere with football. The gunslinger will be on everyone’s Heisman watch list and certainly on NFL team’s draft boards. He does not want to risk any injury playing baseball. Additionally, the summer months will give him more time to improve passing, accuracy, footwork, and strength training. The Huskies have a shot at the Pac 10 crown, and Locker will not do anything to jeopardize the championship or his football career.
Locker may have passed up a lucrative baseball contract, but clearly his passion is football and he is setting a good example that money isn’t always everything. We wish Locker and the Washington Huskies the best of luck in 2010.
