Roman Catholic QB Semaj Beals led as a freshman, and now he’s emerging as a top recruit

The football explodes from his right hand unlike most high school quarterbacks, the same way a baseball sounds different leaving Bryce Harper’s bat.

Semaj Beals is uniquely gifted.

After all, Alabama doesn’t offer scholarships to just anyone, especially not just any freshman.

Beals, Roman Catholic’s rising sophomore quarterback, couples size with impeccable throwing mechanics, footwork, rhythm, and timing. Those physical attributes have drawn scholarship offers from about 20 schools, including Penn State, Duke, Boston College, Maryland, and most recently Syracuse, according to 247 Sports.

It’s the space between his ears, however, that his coaches believe truly sets Beals apart.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Roman’s fifth-year coach, Rick Prete, via phone. “I think he’s special. Whatever gene Jalen Hurts has, [Beals] has it. He’s just a special dude.”

Last season, it didn’t take long for the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder from South Jersey to emerge as a leader.

“Pretty much right away it was like he wasn’t normal,” Prete said. “The way the kids kind of flocked to him and started respecting him right away.”

“The first sprint we ran that summer,” Prete continued, “he was first. The last sprint that we ran in that session, he was first and he was yelling at other guys to step up. He was only in our program for a week and at that point he was kind of holding everyone accountable.”

In an interview at the team’s makeshift practice field behind the Art Museum on Tuesday, Beals said leadership comes naturally to him. It’s something his father, James, instilled at a young age.

It’s also something Beals’ longtime quarterback coach, Marcus Hammond, reinforces when the need arises.

Tuesday afternoon was such an occasion after Beals arrived to the workout a tad tardy.

The 15-year-old hadn’t anticipated that his Uber driver would be slowed by the recent bridge collapse on I-95.

Hammond, also the offensive coordinator at Roman, voiced his displeasure. Beals appeared to listen intently, absorb the message, and, without pouting, resumed his leadership role during drills and sprints.

“I know it’s big to be here on time,” Beals said. “I’m supposed to be the leader of this team and I came late and that’s not really a good [look] because I expect everybody else to be here on time just like me.”

At a time when high school coaches often lament players’ penchants for transferring after their feathers are ruffled, accepting responsibility has become a coveted trait.

“When he’s getting coached hard, he does better,” Hammond said. “He gravitates toward it and then he steps up. Other guys, they transfer the next day.”

Hammond’s message to Beals, whom he has coached since he was 7 years old, also came with a football lesson about anticipating trouble to avoid its consequences.

“A lot of people love a quarterback who can escape when the defense blitzes,” said Hammond. “I love a quarterback who can see that the blitz is coming, change the protection, and now you don’t have to scramble because you’re prepared for it. That was my message to him.”

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In a way, accepting criticism parallels Beals’ plan to handle the recruiting process.

“Just stay humble,” Beals said. “Never get too big. Just keep working and don’t really pay much attention to social media.”

Hammond, who once coached standout quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Alex Hornibrook, also preaches that scholarship offers made to a freshman are about potential. Someday, Hammond says, that potential has to turn into tangible accomplishments in the weight room, classroom, and on the field, or those offers will disappear.

So far, college coaches have raved about Beals’ mechanics, release, and accuracy, and are intrigued by his body frame, which, Prete says, suggests the young quarterback may continue to grow.

Prete added that Beals’ leadership qualities intrigue colleges even more. Tuesday was the first time Beals had been late in years, said Hammond, who added that he typically has to force Beals to take days off.

Beals’ recruiting stock will also be helped next season the more he builds chemistry with Tyseer Denmark, Roman’s talented rising senior receiver who committed to Oregon last year.

» READ MORE: Tyseer Denmark is Roman Catholic’s ‘generational’ receiver. Next stop: Oregon

So, it seems Beals has the physical attributes, the mental makeup, the work ethic, and the guidance to continue his upward trajectory.

“He’s a special person,” Prete said. “He’s never a ‘me guy.’ It’s never about him. It’s always about the team. We’re lucky to have him. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”