Way, way, way back in June of 2009, Jake Locker was
In August of that year, the Washington quarterback signed a deal that included a reported $300,000 signing bonus, a development that had Washington fans fearing his fate for the 2009 football season. When Locker played in 2009 -- causing then-USC coach Pete Carroll to declare him a “ridiculous talent” -- Husky fans’ attention then turned to 2010, with the whole stick-and-ball thing at the very forefront of their thoughts -- even as Locker stated as far back as the day he signed with the Angels that “I’m staying put to play football at Washington.”
Northwest angst was further agitated this spring by the school declaring baseball questions off-limits to Locker. And Locker spending a coupla/few days before football spring practice at baseball spring training.
And then there’s the contract Locker signed last year, which reportedly could have forced him to fulfill a baseball obligation this year.
Now, as if there were any doubt as Locker heads into a football season that could end with a legitimate shot at the Heisman Trophy and being the No.1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Locker has reaffirmed his commitment to UW football.
With no baseball hassles this summer to get in the way of his current focus.
“I think it’s an important summer for us, so I’m going to spend the summer with those guys (at UW) and concentrate on the football season,” Locker, on ESPN radio by way of the Seattle Times, said.
Baseball-wise, Locker is under the Angels’ thumb for another five or so years. Football-wise, Steve Sarkisian and the Huskies have him for another seven months. And that’s all that anyone involved/invested in that program could ask of a “ridiculous talent”.