Scouts Pass on Passing Leader : Baldwin Park’s Richard Robles Called Too Small; His Coach Disagrees

For the last two seasons, quarterback Richard Robles of Baldwin Park High School has consistently appeared among the passing leaders in Southern California.

As a junior last year, his performance was so impressive that he was chosen to the All-CIF Southern Section Division IV first team. Robles entered this season as the top returning quarterback in the state in passing yardage from a year ago.

But you will not find his name mentioned by any scouts or on any college recruiting list.

At least, not under the heading Major-College Prospect.

The 17-year-old Robles says any initial interest he receives from colleges, usually in the form of recruiting questionnaires, subsides after they learn that he is only 5-10 and 160 pounds.

Coach Tony Zane of Baldwin Park says he understands why Robles has not sparked the interest of recruiters. He just doesn’t agree with them.

“Most college quarterbacks are more like 6-1 or taller,” Zane said. “Normally, 5-10 quarterbacks are like a dime a dozen and nobody wants to take a shot at them because there are so many around and it’s understandable. But he’s a very complete football player.”

In fact, Zane thinks Robles has as much ability as any quarterback in the talent-rich San Gabriel Valley.

“Right now, I don’t think there are any others that we’ve seen that are as good as him,” he said. Added David Ferrill, the team’s offensive coordinator who coached at the junior college level for eight years: “This is only my second year of working at the high school level, but I’ve worked with a lot of college quarterbacks. He’s as good as any of them.”

For Robles, any question about his size only encourages him.

“It motivates me because I look at the bigger and taller guys, and I don’t want to brag, but I have better stats,” he says.

Robles will not draw an argument on that point.

As a junior, he completed 176 of 318 passes for 2,688 yards and 22 touchdowns to finish among the Southern Section leaders. Included in his total was a remarkable 511-yard, five-touchdown performance against Ramona in the first round of the Division IV playoffs last season.

That was the sixth highest single-game passing total in state history, second all-time in the Southern Section. It also fell only 36 yards short of the all-time state record.

He hasn’t approached that figure in his first four games this season, although Robles is once again one of the leading passers in the Southland having completed 58 of 103 for 996 yards and four touchdowns.

Robles also has a two-year completion percentage of .556 and has completed 56.3% of his attempts this season. Zane says accuracy is one of the best attributes his quarterback possesses.

“He has a very strong arm and is as accurate as any quarterback we’ve had here,” he said. “He has an uncanny ability to find the open man.”

His performance may be even more impressive this season because he is working with an entirely new corps of receivers. “This year we’ve been working extra hard because we have rookie receivers,” Robles said. “Every day at the end of practice we throw 50 passes and, if we drop one, even on number 49, we have to start all over again.”

Zane said Robles also has a mental approach to the game that is second to none.

“He’s very tough as far as football goes,” he said. “He knows what he has to do and he prepares himself well.”

Robles says he becomes more single-minded as game time approaches.

“When it comes down to game time I don’t really think about anything else,” he said. “I just get ready for the game and prepare for that. It’s like I become a different person. I just try to put my game face on.”

Perhaps his mental approach to playing quarterback derives from the fact that Robles has played the position since he was a child.

“Since I was 9 years old I’ve been playing quarterback, and over the years I’ve just learned more and more,” he said. “In high school, I’ve learned a lot from Coaches Ferrill and Zane.”

Ferrill said Robles had already established a reputation as an outstanding passer by the time he joined the varsity last year.

“He had been playing quarterback since he was in Junior All-American football and in his freshman and sophomore years, he just did a tremendous job,” Ferrill said.

Robles starred for the freshman team in his first year in high school and with the junior varsity as a sophomore. His team finished undefeated both seasons. He admits that he would have liked to have played on the varsity as a sophomore, especially since he suited up for all of the games.

“I came up my sophomore year thinking I was going to start (on the varsity), but it didn’t work out,” he said. “I think that made me work harder the following year.”

While that may have inspired Robles to have a strong season as a junior, he says much of the credit for his success belongs to Zane. After all, he said, it was Zane who also helped develop successful Baldwin Park players such as brothers Norm and Mike Santiago at quarterback and wide receiver Ron Brown--who plays for the Los Angeles Rams.

“Coach Zane’s been here for 20 years and since he’s been here the team has been passing a lot,” Robles said. “Since my freshman year I’ve really had a chance to throw the ball. That’s because of his offense.

“He teaches you how to read defenses and he shows you a lot of other things that you need to know. Plus we’ve had some really good receivers in the past.”

Robles was also quick to credit his family, which he says has provided his biggest inspiration for success.

“My mom and dad (Renee and Richard Sr.), as long as I can remember, have never missed any of my games whether it’s been football or baseball,” he said. “They’ve both been very supportive to me.

“It feels good when you can see your mom and dad out there rooting for you.”

While he has received more attention in football, Robles is also a pretty good baseball player. As an outfielder and pitcher last season, he made the All-Sierra League team, batted .421 and posted a 3.73 earned-run average.

He is not sure about which sport he wants to pursue after high school.

“Right now I don’t know what I really want to do, whether its football or baseball,” Robles said. “It’s still up in the air. I like them both equally.”

Robles admits that he would like to give football a try in college, but not because he has anything to prove. He prefers to let the results speak for themselves.