This was supposed to be one of the finest classes of quarterbacks in western Pennsylvania in years, what with Tyler Palko of West Allegheny, Luke Getsy of Steel Valley, Greg Dapper of Keystone Oaks and Karim El Nokali of Chartiers Valley among the handful of Division I prospects from the WPIAL.
By season's end, Matt Bonislawski was being mentioned with the best of them.
The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder passed for 1,571 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions, including 494 yards and six touchdowns in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs, when he led 16th-seeded Highlands to upsets of Uniontown and Moon.
Even so, he hasn't heard from any Division I programs.
"It felt pretty good to be one of the best," Bonislawski said, "but I see all these other quarterbacks going to big schools and feel a little left out."
Blame it on his junior year.
It's not that Bonislawski had a bad junior season. He just played a different position. Instead of throwing passes, he was catching them. Bonislawski played receiver and safety, waiting behind Justin Bouch for his turn at quarterback.
"The only thing that's probably holding the kid back is that he didn't play quarterback his junior year," Highlands coach Tim Karrs said. "A lot of recruiting is done in the junior year, and that's probably been a big drawback for the kid. Coaches were recruiting him as a safety off his junior films.
"He never was out there as a quarterback."
Bonislawski had 20 receptions for 361 yards and a touchdown last season - "I was really a quarterback trying to play wideout," he said - as his only pass attempts came on flanker options.
He knew that he'd eventually get his chance to play behind center.
Bouch graduated and went to Edinboro, and Bonislawski finally got his opportunity. He counted on having a good season, but couldn't have predicted the success that followed. He was selected first-team All-Greater Allegheny and to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and All-Class AAA teams.
"I thought I'd do all right this year," Bonislawski said. "It went way beyond my expectations."
Karrs credits Bonislawski's heady play and athleticism - he also stars for the Highlands basketball team and pitches in American Legion baseball - for his ability to make big plays for the Golden Rams this season. He threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the first-round upset of Uniontown, then passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns against Moon.
Bonislawski flashed deceiving running ability, rushing for 257 yards and four touchdowns this season. He also caught a 30-yard touchdown pass on a quarterback throwback from flanker Ryan Valasek in the playoff win over Moon.
"He has exceptional quickness for a big guy," Karrs said. "He has very good natural ability. He has the tools. Some schools are going to miss on him, and some might not get the people they want and come back."
Bonislawski is receiving interest from Division I-AA schools like Lehigh, Richmond and William & Mary and Division II programs like Edinboro, Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock. He's not dwelling on which level he plays.
"I'm not really expecting a Division-I school to come after me," said Bonislawski, who has a 3.4 grade-point average and scored 1,020 on the SAT. "I just want a place where I can fit in. As long as I can get a place where I can get a scholarship and play football, that's fine."
If bigger schools do come in late, that's no problem.
Bonislawski is in no hurry to decide.
He's used to waiting to get his due.
Kevin Gorman's recruiting column appears Fridays in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at either kgorman tribweb.com or 412-320-7812.
