Corona del Mar's Jack Rottler commits to Washington State football

Corona del Mar defensive end Jack Rottler (33) causes a fumble during a nonleague game against JSerra on Aug. 17, 2018.

By David Carrillo PeñalozaAssistant Editor, Fast Break Desk

March 19, 2020 10:22 PM PT

Two college football coaches began recruiting Jack Rottler before the start of his junior year at Corona del Mar High. And they never forgot about him.

Rottler never received an offer from the University of Wyoming, where both assistants coached. He attributes that to a slow start to his senior year, due to him undergoing surgery to repair a torn hip labrum in January 2019.

Fourteen months later, the two coaches — Jake Dickert and John Richardson — are no longer in Wyoming, but they’ve asked Rottler to join them at their new school: Washington State.

There’s still no scholarship for Rottler in Pullman, Wash., where Dickert is the defensive coordinator and Richardson is the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator, and that doesn’t matter. The chance for Rottler to play for these two assistants on the next level does.

Rottler, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound defensive end, said on Thursday that he committed to Washington State as a preferred walk-on player.

“[They] were the first coaches to extend their support post-surgery,” Rottler said. “They liked my tenacity and athleticism off the edge but also made it clear the amount of work I will need to put in to be successful at the D1 level. But Coach [Richardson] was there [for me], telling me to keep working and to focus on my own path. Coach [Richardson] and Dickert, and [defensive ends] coach [A.J.] Cooper recently switched over to Washington State and immediately reached out to me and offered a spot on the team.

“I chose Wazzou [because of] my relationship with the staff, their transparency on where they thought I was at in my journey, and most importantly, the opportunity to challenge myself at the top level. Coming off the injury, I have a ton of work to make up and as a player. I want that chip on my shoulder. We eat chips as me and my dad like to say. I know what I’m capable of, and I plan to work relentlessly at Wazzou to make my team better and hopefully earn a scholarship one day.”

Rottler, who helped the Sea Kings win CIF Southern Section Division 3 and CIF State Division 1-A titles in 2019, is the seventh CdM senior to commit or sign with a college program. Six of the Sea Kings are headed to Pac-12 programs.

Receiver John Humphreys signed with Stanford, while quarterback Ethan Garbers and tight end Mark Redman signed with Washington. Receiver Bradley Schlom is headed to UCLA and Chandler Fincher to Arizona State, both as preferred walk-on players.

Rottler, who finished with 32 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble as a senior, said he’s looking forward to playing against his former CdM teammates in college.

“I think [this is] just a testament to the unique group of talent and work ethic that came together for this past 2019 season in the junior and senior class,” said Sea Kings coach Dan O’Shea, whose team went 16-0 overall and won the Sunset League by going 5-0. “To have young student-athletes getting the chance to continue a sport they love at the highest levels in the college arena is an honor, and we are thrilled for these players who have represented CdM football so well.”

Below are the seven CdM football players committed to colleges:

CB Chandler Fincher, Arizona State

QB Ethan Garbers, Washington

WR John Humphreys, Stanford

TE Mark Redman, Washington

DE Jack Rottler, Washington State

WR Bradley Schlom, UCLA

OL Tanner Tomlinson, Western Colorado

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Updates

10:22 p.m. March 19, 2020: The article was updated with quotes from Jack Rottler.

This article was originally published on March 19 at 4:57 p.m.

Corona del Mar’s Jack Rottler commits to Washington State football

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