Rodgers, Allen lead CCCAA connections in NFC, AFC Championship games this weekend

Aaron Rodgers (Butte College) of the Green Bay Packers and Josh Allen (Reedley College) of the Buffalo Bills both began their collegiate careers on CCCAA campuses and now look to lead their teams to Super Bowl XLV. Additionally, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was an offensive tackle at Glendale College and is looking to capture his second straight Super Bowl. NFL legend Tom Brady didn't play for a CCCAA school but spent many years training on the fields of his hometown College of San Mateo. (Photos courtesy of USA Today)
Aaron Rodgers (Butte College) of the Green Bay Packers and Josh Allen (Reedley College) of the Buffalo Bills both began their collegiate careers on CCCAA campuses and now look to lead their teams to Super Bowl XLV. Additionally, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was an offensive tackle at Glendale College and is looking to capture his second straight Super Bowl. NFL legend Tom Brady didn't play for a CCCAA school but spent many years training on the fields of his hometown College of San Mateo. (Photos courtesy of USA Today)
January 21, 2021

SAN MATEO - Quarterbacks groomed on Northern California Community College football fields lead NFL Conference championship teams.

They include leading MVP candidates Josh Allen of Buffalo (Reedley College) and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay (Butte College).

Add to the mix Tom Brady of Tampa Bay, who spent decades training at College of San Mateo with his personal coach, the late Tom Martinez, although going directly from Serra High School (San Mateo) to Michigan and then to New England.

While Kansas City does not have a JC quarterback, it does have a defending Super Bowl winning head coach in Andy Reid, the  former offensive tackle at California’s Glendale Community College. 

So, pick your favorite CC-paced team in the NFL title games. 

--Allen led Buffalo to its first AFC East title since 1995 and first playoff wins since then. He set franchise records for passing yards, 4,544, completion percentage, 69.2, and passing TDs, 37. Allen has 25 rushing TD in his first three seasons, 2nd most all-time among NFL QBs. 

Allen had no DI offers out of Firebaugh High in 2014, so enrolled at nearby Reedley College. He did not see much action for coach Randy Whited until the fourth game, when he ran for four touchdowns. After completing just three of 13 passes for 46 yards after three games, Allen finished the 10-game season with state-ranking stats of 2,055 passing yards (No. 20) on 127 of 259 completions and 26 TDs (No. 7). He rushed for 660 yards and ten TDs – total offense of 2715 yards and 36 TDs. Allen was a first team All-Golden Coast League quarterback (from a team with a 4-6 record) and received a scholarship to Wyoming.

--Rogers, the 2011 NFL MVP when he set the season passer rating record of 122.5, nearly eclipsed that in 2020 at 121.5. Ne is the only NFL QB to have more than one season with a rating over 120! He also led the NFL this season in TD passes (48) and completion percentage (70.7),

With no DI scholarship offers out of Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Rodgers attended his local community college, Butte, and led Coach Craig Rigsbee’s Roadrunners to a 10-1 season and No. 2 national rating, throwing for 26 touchdowns. He had a phenomenal 169.7 collegiate passing efficiency rating, completing 150 of 241 passes for 2,156 yards with only four interceptions. He was a first team All-California selection by the California Community College Football Coaches Association and JC Athletic Bureau. He then accepted a scholarship to Cal.

Interesting parallel: Both Allen and Aaron had 26 TD passes in ten regular season games as community college freshmen.  

--Brady’s personal coach from his high school days,  throughout his college and pro days, was Martinez, a quarterback guru. Brady also received regular remote advice until Martinez died in February 2012. (Martinez, who also helped mentor John Elway and JaMarcus Russell, is considered the winningest all sports coach in California CC history, with more than 1400 victories in football, basketball, and softball.)

FIVE FORMER JC/CC QBS IN EARLY 2020 SEASON NFL SPOTLIGHT:

--The 2020 NFL season began with five former JC/CC quarterbacks in early starting roles.

Jake Luton (Ventura) at Jacksonville had two early season starts and completed 60 of 110 passes for 624 yards and two TDs. It wasn’t enough, however, to turn the program around.

New England’s 2020 season QB Cam Newton, played at Blinn (Community) College in Texas before transferring to Auburn for his Heisman Trophy winning campaign.  Newton is the only NFL player with 30,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.

New England’s Julian Edelman (College of San Mateo), better known as the 2019 Super Bowl MVP as a receiver, did complete both of his passes attempted in 2020 with a superlative 118 passer efficiency rating during an injury-shortened campaign. Network commentators have cited him as a future Hall of Fame candidate for approaching NFL post season receiving records. Edelman was a star option QB at both San Mateo and Kent State before becoming a favorite slotback target for Brady at New England.

Add regular season NFC West winner Seattle, with head coach Pete Carroll, who played at College of Marin in Kentfield.  Green Bay was the NFC North winner, Buffalo the AFC East winner, and Kansas City the AFC West winner.

(Compiled by Fred Baer, JC Athletic Bureau; College of San Mateo Sports Information)