5-Star Advice: Travis Jonsen
From the book "5-star QB", Q&A with the former Oregon QB who transferred to the FCS before becoming a wide receiver and winning a Super Bowl ring
There have been 140 quarterbacks in the history of recruiting who were dubbed ‘5-Star QBs.’ While only 1 of those won a Super Bowl (as a QB) and only 20 were drafted in the first round all of those signal callers can offer brilliant insight and advice. Some may be deemed busts by fans, some are transitioning out of football and some are currently playing on Saturdays and Sundays but all have a story and over 50 of them have shared with us some of their most intimate insights into their path from high school to retirement, and everything in between.
In addition, another 50 ambassadors of the game have offered their advice to anyone going through the process of recruiting and quarterback play and their expertise is second to none.
Each week we will take you inside the minds of those who play quarterback, coached quarterbacks or covered quarterbacks at the highest level and our goal is that the stories shared will impact how you view the game. After all, the goal of Y-Option is to bring thoughtful conversation to the world of college football, through the lens of the West Coast.
This week’s contributor of “5-Star Advice” is former Oregon quarterback Travis Jonsen. The #4 dual threat QB in the Class of 2015 out of Servite High School in Orange County changed his name from Travis Waller to Jonsen, his mother’s maiden name, at the end of his high school career before signing with the Ducks. After 2 seasons in Eugene without seeing action, Jonsen decided to transfer after the spring of 2017. After a season at Riverside City College where he got benched, he arrived at Montana State where he showed off his versatility as both a quarterback and a receiver in 2 seasons. Undrafted out of college, Jonsen caught on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, where as a member of the team’s practice squad, won a Super Bowl ring from the 2020 season.
From the book “5-Star QB: It’s Not About the Stars, It’s About the Journey”….
When did you get your first scholarship offer?
The morning of my last game of my junior season, I received an offer from Steve Sarkisian and the University of Washington. I was excited but my emotions weren’t too high because we were playing the number one team in the nation, St. John Bosco, with their number one quarterback Josh Rosen.
What schools offered you prior to being ranked 5-Star?
Oregon, Washington, Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Arizona, Colorado, Penn State, Cal, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Fresno State, Maryland, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Utah, Wake Forest.
What was your body of work as a player before being ranked a 5-Star QB?
Army All-American, Elite 11 Finalist, Trinity League MVP. Sophomore Year: 6 Varsity Starts.