ORANGE COUNTY PREP FRIDAY : ORANGE LUTHERAN’S HOMEMADE STAR : Jason Neben May Be Best of 4 Brothers

Jason Neben never lacks for advice. He can’t avoid it.

It’s one of the realities of having three older brothers--all of whom preceded him as star football players at Orange Lutheran High School.

But Neben, a junior quarterback, is more than living up to the family’s football tradition.

And considering the older Nebens’ achievements, that’s saying something.

Marc Neben, 27, a running back, holds the school record for career rushing (2,881 yards) and was the first Orange Lutheran player selected to play in the Orange County All-Star game.

Nathan Neben, 24, a running back/defensive back, set the single-season rushing record (1,419), and his career total (2,493) is second to Marc’s.

Leon Neben, 20, a running back/defensive back, shares, with Nathan, the record for career interceptions (10) and ranks in the top 10 in nearly every defensive category.

Now comes Jason, 17, who as a sophomore rushed for 1,059 yards to pass Leon and move into third on the school’s all-time list. This year, as a quarterback in the Lancers’ option offense, his career total is 1,759 yards, 734 yards behind Nathan.

But Neben’s sights are clearly set on Marc’s school record of 2,881 yards.

“Two-eight-eight-one, that’s my goal,” said Neben, who at 6-feet 1-inch, 190 pounds is bigger than any of his brothers. “I have it all figured out, and I’m on course to break Marc’s record. It’s what I wanted to do when I came to Orange Lutheran.”

Though Jason is on a route to pass them all, none of the older Nebens are at a loss for words when it comes to counseling their brother.

“I get plenty of advice after games,” Jason said. “One of my brothers will tell me how I should have cut, another will say I should have run harder. I’ve learned a lot from all three.”

He also has learned from his father, Eldon Neben, an assistant at Lutheran since 1979, who has coached all of his sons except Marc. So it isn’t surprising that even on days off, conversation turns to football when the Nebens gather in force.

“We have lunch every Sunday at my parents’ house, and Dad always brings home the film of the previous game,” said Marc, who is a volunteer assistant coach with the team. “The four of us will show up early to watch the film. We point out what Jason did right and what he did wrong.”

Jason, who has watched Orange Lutheran football games since he was 8, has always taken his family position in stride.

“Nathan was a wrestler, and every time he learned a new move, he’d have to practice it on me,” Jason said. “I guess that’s part of being the younger brother. Like when we’d go camping, none of them wanted to take me fishing because I always got my line tied up.”

In pickup football games, Jason was always teamed with Marc against Nathan and Leon. The games were very competitive.

“Dad used to get a little upset with us because we’d tear up the front lawn,” Marc said. “Jason was this little guy running around. Now he’s bigger than all of us.”

But he’s still their little brother, and along with all the advice comes a hefty dose of ribbing.

Marc, Nathan and Leon played both ways, but Jason has played primarily on offense. He has had some playing time at defensive back, but not enough to remove the label of a one-way player.

“I hear about it all the time, mainly from Leon,” Jason said. “He’ll tell me that it was a lot tougher when he played. He had to be in better condition than me, because he played both ways.”

Against Valley Christian last Saturday, Neben twice saved touchdowns with defensive plays, as he played most of the second half at safety. But Leon, who arrived after the game, had just one thing to say.

“Jason played defense?”

Jason was moved to quarterback this season to replace Brian Johnson, who graduated. And Coach Bob Dowding switched from the power-I formation to the veer to take advantage of Neben’s running ability.

Neben also has completed 21 of 50 passes for 309 yards and 1 touchdown. He has been intercepted seven times.

“If you ask Jason, he will tell you he’d prefer playing tailback,” said Dowding, who has coached all four of the Nebens. “When we asked him about playing quarterback, he said if it will help the team win, he’d do it. That’s the type of kid he is; he thinks of the team first.”

Neben said it has been difficult adjusting.

“As a tailback, I’d get the ball and then select where I was going to run. Now I have to make the decisions a lot faster. It’s a lot more finesse and less power.”

Neben still runs with power when needed. On a second-quarter play in the Valley Christian game, he was stopped before he could get the option started. But, instead of taking the loss, he cut up the middle, broke a tackle and carried two defenders into the end zone.

“Jason still runs like a tailback,” Dowding said. “But that’s the position he’ll play in college. He’s the best of the four brothers.”