Jonathan Boland, Parkrose star quarterback, commits to Portland State University during in-home visit
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Parkrose star quarterback Jonathan Boland thought he was going to receive a scholarship offer from Portland State University during an in-home visit on the evening of November 26.
Instead, the man who was supposed to sit in his living room and sell the Vikings, Nigel Burton, was fired by the school, putting an immediate halt on Boland's recruitment.
It took a couple of weeks, but Portland State finally re-established a connection with the dual-threat quarterback, who accepted a scholarship from Vikings during an in-home visit from interim head coach Bruce Barnum and wide receiver coach Steve Cooper on Wednesday.
"It was just a huge relief. It was taking a monkey off my back," he said. "I was like, 'Oh my goodness.' It was a relief."
This season, Boland earned Northwest Oregon Conference offensive player of the year after throwing for 2,389 yards and 23 touchdowns with 772 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. However, Portland State is recruiting him with the intention of letting him feel out a position at the next level.
"It's really my decision," he explained. "They are really recruiting me as an athlete, but I can come in as a quarterback, wide receiver, just athlete. I just want to come in and if I'm looking good at slot receiver, (play) slot receiver. If I'm looking good at quarterback, play quarterback."
Boland hasn't played receiver since his freshman season in high school, but was a starter on the varsity team, so he's showed plenty of aptitude.
"It's going to be different. It's not 100 percent. We'll have to see where I'll play when I get there, but I'm not really nervous," he said. "I've played it before, it's just at a different level. I'm just going to have to compete."
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound signal-caller will begin his college career competing at quarterback, along with fellow class of 2015 commit Thomas Hamilton, a pocket passer from Oregon City High School.
The first in-home visit on the schedule ended before it began, the second led to a commitment. It took some time, but Boland finally has a college football future.