Funny how you can be going through the day when a name pops in your head. A name that you haven’t heard, read or even thought about for years and years. It’s maybe not even someone you know.
A few minutes ago I was grabbing my keys to walk out the door when the name Jason Standridge came to mind. The name probably means nothing to you. He isn’t someone famous. At least not anymore.
13 years ago, 1997, Auburn signed a quarterback out of Trussville high school that was supposed to be the one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Here’s what a recruiting service said about him not long after he signed a letter of intent to “take his talents to the plains.”
Strong-arm, drop-back QB with surprising speed from same high school (Hewitt) that produced Alabama’s Jay Barker; No. 1 QB prospect in Alabama; rated top passing QB in South by Pigskin Preps, which projects him to contribute in first year; Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Super Southern 100”; rated 9.75 by Jeff Whitaker; as senior, hit on 50 of 95 passes for 698 yards and seven TDs; playing for run-oriented team, was No. 3 on Birmingham Post-Herald “10 Most Wanted” list and The Birmingham News “Super Seniors” list; “Alabama Super Seven” by Inside the Auburn Tigers magazine; No. 5 on The Tuscaloosa News “Sweet Sixteen”; member of Mobile Press Register “Elite 18”; member of Forrest Davis “Alabama’s Top 12” and “Southeastern Top 40”; “Gifted athlete who runs extremely well. May need a redshirt year because he plays for a running team,” says Davis, who rates him 4 on 5-point scale; Standridge also has a very strong arm (BP 315) with big hands and a great knowledge of the game. As a 90 MPH pitcher, he also expects to play baseball for the Tigers; selected for 1997 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
I remember Auburn fans were ecstatic about Standridge signing with the Tigers. He was going to be the next Pat Sullivan, the qb to take the team to championships.
But he never showed up
Standridge opted to play baseball, notice that “90 MPH” in the bio? For some reason ( football being a month away, baseball on my now perhaps), I wondered what the heck ever happened to that guy? I don’t remember seeing him in any baseball highlights. Ever!
Here he is, playing for the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Baseball League. I wonder if he ever wonders what might have happened….