Kyle Shurmur Loading Up For Another Big Year At La Salle
Philadelphia, PA (CBS) — Kyle Shurmur is enjoying the best summer a high school quarterback can have, throwing passes to NFL receivers, receiving insight from NFL veteran quarterbacks and absorbing everything around him to take into his senior year at La Salle.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Shurmur, son of Eagles' offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, is one of the best quarterbacks in the state. He's returning this year to the Explorers with the peace of mind that his college destination is set—Vanderbilt—and all his focus is solely on playing, not performing for college scouts.
"The best learning experience was getting on the field last year and having a year under my belt is huge this year," said Shurmur, who completed 180 of 307 passes for 2,472 yards and 25 touchdowns, according to Tedsilary.com, in his first year as a starting quarterback. "I've learned the speed of the game and the camaraderie between the guys [at the NFL level] is very cool. Everyone thinks this level is about individuals, but everyone gets along together and everyone supports each other. That's the best lesson I've learned to take to the high school level. If you're a good teammate, others will follow you."
What the beast lurks out there—and that beast is St. Joseph's Prep. The Hawks returns the best team in the area, the state and one of the best teams in the country. If the Explorers will have any chance against them, it rests with the talented Shurmur, who embraces the challenge.
Shurmur threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in a pair of losses to St. Joe's Prep last year. The Explorers do return one of the best deep threats in the area in senior receiver Jimmy Herron, who caught a team-high 48 passes for 734 yards, according to Tedsilary.com.
Shurmur is a game-changing kind of player.
"I think we're a little under the radar," Shurmur said. "National rankings are fine, but I think we can still compete with [Prep]. After losing last year, we have something to play for now. We recognize some things a little better. St. Joe's Prep got better, and we were too content, I thought, last year.
"More guys have worked harder in the spring and this summer. I think I learned that when I just relaxed and played, I was better than when I tried to make too many plays. If I just be myself out there, I play better, as opposed to trying to do too much. The recruiting is off my mind now and I can just relax and play football. I can't wait."
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