MACOMB — Good arm strength, accuracy, mobility, toughness and a head for the game are the five tools most coaches look for when selecting their starting varsity quarterback.

Dakota senior James Stallons has proven he owns the tricks of the trade to be big-time gunslinger after verbally committing to play quarterback at the University of Wisconsin next year.

But it’s not just the skill set James Stallons possesses that will land him in Big Ten country next season — it’s the path he took to get there.

“We spotted him at the middle school, and we said that he’s got a good arm,” Dakota coach Mike Giannone. “He got with coach (Mike) Benavides as his personal trainer, came in at 5:30 in the morning every day and started lifting like crazy.”

James Stallons’ passion for being the best signal caller on the field doesn’t stop at making the right arm on his 6-foot-6-inch, 180-pound frame stronger, but making it more accurate, as well.

The QB has also traveled many miles around the Midwest over the past few years, working out at college quarterback camps from the University of Iowa and Purdue to Michigan State University.

“It gave him more confidence,” Giannone said of another benefit to all the extra work. “And what was happening there, too, was it was giving me more confidence in him because he was doing more than anybody else, and he was doing everything we asked of him.”

‘A gifted athlete’

James Stallons’ talents on the football field have shown through as he’s led Dakota to two straight regional championships after getting called up to varsity in the fifth game of 2003, his sophomore season.

James Stallons threw for 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, helping the offense rack up 368 points for an average of 28.3 points per game. The Cougars rode his strong arm all the way to the state semifinals.

Make no mistake, opposing coaches know all about him heading into this season.

“He’s a gifted athlete,” said Utica Stevenson coach Rick Bye. “He has a really quick release. You have to make sure you stay on their receivers.”

But just focusing on James Stallons, a Dakota co-captain, means opportunities for the rest of the offense.

“They’re (opposing defenses) keying on him throwing the ball and don’t expect me or Quentin (Trotter) to run the ball,” said Dakota senior running back and co-captain Gregg Gay. “So, it helps us running the ball. He gets everybody up.”

That said, James Stallons’ talents also make the Cougars’ defense feel more at ease.

“He’s always giving his all out there,” senior defensive tackle Josh Gerogen, also a co-captain, said. “He has a ton of respect, being a starting quarterback since his sophomore year. He runs our offense; you have to have respect for him.”

“I want to be a leader when we’re down, pick the guys up and lead them to victory,” James Stallons said. “I want to be there for whatever they need.”

And before James Stallons even thinks of taking his first snap at Wisconsin’s famed Camp Randall Stadium, he wants to make sure his final high school snap comes at Ford Field at the end of November in the state championship game.

“I think we have a really good team,” James Stallons said. “I want to make it to the state finals. That’s my ultimate goal.”

[More at www.candgnews.com]