Drew Mestemaker’s High School Highlight Reel Rocks

I had heard the story about how Drew Mestemaker played in the defensive backfield in high school, but I hadn’t gone back and looked at the tape … until today.

Mestemaker’s Hudl page is still up. Back on Nov. 14, 2023, Mestemaker uploaded a 3:33 video titled “Senior Season Highlights,” and it rocks.

The first half of the highlights are of Mestemaker playing quarterback, so there was at least a little time where Mestemaker was allowed to play his natural position. Based on crowd sizes, it seems like some of the QB tape was from JV games or maybe the preseason scrimmage.

The play that starts 17 seconds into the highlight reel sees Mestemaker absolutely truck a linebacker.

At 1:11, he is lined up as a receiver and is used on a double-pass. With no one open, he tucked it and ran, ending the play by again putting his shoulder into a defender. But what a luxury it would be to have a potential first round NFL quarterback used as a trick-play passer.

At 1:33 he’s the holder on a fake field-goal attempt and completes a pass.

And then start the defensive back highlights.

It’s said that Mestemaker played safety in high school, but he appears at corner quite a bit in these highlights.

At 2:24, Mestemaker comes flying in from the edge on what looks to be a fake punt and forces a loss of yardage. It’s just crazy seeing Mestemaker, who led college football in passing last season, essentially lined up like he’s Collin Oliver.

It’s certainly interesting to see Mestemaker’s humble beginnings, just getting throws in wherever he can — whether that’s while lined up as a receiver or as a holder — and doing his best to limit yardage instead of trying to gain it. And then two years after this highlight reel was released, Mestemaker had the likes of Oklahoma State, Oregon, LSU and Texas Tech seeking his services as a quarterback.