McALLEN — After three stellar years at the varsity level, McAllen Rowe’s Jonas Ortiz has taken the next step in his playing career.
On Monday afternoon, the senior quarterback made official his commitment to the Texas A&M-Kingsville football team, signing a national letter of intent inside the McAllen Rowe High School gymnasium surrounded by family, friends, teammates and supporters.
“It means a lot. It’s a great opportunity that I’m in. It’s a blessed situation and I’m more than happy to be going to Texas A&M-Kingsville and taking my academic and athletic talents,” Ortiz said. “Definitely gotta thank God first. You know, my parents, they do everything, I can’t do anything without them. I know my friends and family have helped me through the journey, it’s been a grind, but I can’t thank everyone enough who’s helped me through it.”
It was a childhood dream of Ortiz’s to play college ball, and now he’ll do it at the same place his father, Jimmy Ortiz, did.
“The recruitment process and visits, everything was made smoothly by the coaching staff and Coach (Michael) Salinas, and going to the school made me feel like I was at home, so that was a big reason why I chose Texas A&M-Kingsville over others,” he said.
| McAllen Rowe senior quarterback Jonas Ortiz signed a national letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Texas A&M-Kingsville Monday in the Rowe High School Gymnasium. By Bryan Ramos |
The McAllen Rowe signal caller threw for 2,201 yards, ran for 587 yards and accounted for 28 total touchdowns, leading his Warriors to a first-round playoff upset of Laredo Alexander during his final year.
“My favorite memories are definitely just my friends, having long practices, hard hours — being with those guys made every minute, every second worth it. Just going out there practicing with my brothers, I wouldn’t take anything back,” Ortiz said.
The Javelinas signed Ortiz as an athlete, meaning he has the potential to lineup wherever needed, even behind center if called upon. It’s nothing new, however, for Ortiz, who has moved all around the field for the Warriors his sophomore season before taking over at quarterback for his junior and senior years.
“I’m hoping to bring a lot, you know. There’s high expectations,” he said. “I’m going to be more than just one position. I’m going in as an athlete that can help anywhere on the field anywhere Coach puts me. That’s where I’m willing to play.”
Ortiz joins five more RGV products as part of TAMUK’s 2020 recruiting class.