CARVER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLE: TRIBUTE AND CURRENTLY UNCOMMITTED TO COLLEGE RECORD SETTING FOOTBALL STAR – JACK BALZARINI. Jack Balzarini, a Senior at Carver High School in Carver, MA capped a sensational 2024 football season and career. Jack Balzarini, a 6’ 2” 195 lb. Quarterback who graduates in 2025, has yet to commit to any college, is wavering on offers and still has an open recruitment process as well as accepting offers for consideration. Jack Balzarini is one of the most dynamic, talented, and record-setting high school football players in the area. Blessed with rocket strong throwing arm mechanics, high football IQ, dedication, and who wears green shoes, socks, and mouthpiece each game to honor the memory of his mom, Jack is one of the most fascinating as well as intriguing prospects in the state and country. Jack Balzarini scored 40 total touchdowns in the 2024 season (25 passing/15 rushing) almost 3,000 yards of offense and broke a Massachusetts state record for a playoff game by throwing 7 (seven) touchdown passes in a game. Below in this article is a tribute to Jack Balzarini with Questions and Answers about his football career, followed by his Bio, Career Stats/Accolades and recruit me contact information. QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH JACK BALZARINI: WB NEWS: When did you start playing football and how did it become a game you love to play? JACK BALZARINI: I started playing football at 6 years old in 2012 in a flag football league and then in 2014 I started playing tackle football for the Carver Cowboys Youth League. It instantly became a sport that I loved to learn and play. WB NEWS: After being a talented Wide Receiver in 2022 and 2023, how did you decide to change your position to Quarterback for the 2024 season for Carver High School and how was that discovered to make that happen? JACK BALZARINI:   I played Quarterback as a Freshman on the Carver Junior Varsity team and loved playing that position. When I made the varsity team in my Sophomore year the team had a big need for a Wide Receiver and when the coaches saw my talent for catching passes and we already had a starting Quarterback named Tyler Lennox who did many great things for the team and went on to play at U/Mass, I relished and succeeded in the role as Wide Receiver my Sophomore and Junior seasons. After the 2023 season ended Coach Ben Shuffain who was the coach at that time, asked me if I was interested in being the starting Quarterback for the 2024 season. I told him only under one condition, that I would still be able to retain my starting job on Defense as I wanted to play both Offense and Defense. He agreed so I started to dedicate intense training for the Quarterback position in the off season. WB NEWS: What did you do to prepare yourself to become the # 1 Quarterback for Carver High School for the 2024 season? JACK BALZARINI: Lots of strength training, footwork drills and perfecting my throwing motion. I attended Cape Cod QB Academy in early 2024 and then M2 QB academy in the spring and summer of 2024 for weekly sessions. I also sometimes stayed for a second session as a Wide Receiver because they always needed guys to catch passes, so it helped me on two levels. Carver High School also competed in a few different 7 on 7 leagues at Xaverian High School and Middleborough High School that also helped with timing and overall team cohesion. Our team competed very well as a small school facing Division 1 High Schools and our team had a great reputation for being a good team. WB NEWS: What was your experience, results and how did you feel playing in the first game of the season as the team’s Quarterback? JACK BALZARINI: I felt like I personally had a lot to prove to the new coaches, the media that wrote our team off after a tough off season and graduating most of our starters from the previous season. My talented teammates were looking at me to be the leader and for us to succeed as a unit together. In my first game at Quarterback in the 2024 season, our team showed our talent and potential as we won 39-0. I passed for 190 yards and threw 3 touchdown passes and rushed for 2 more touchdowns. All my hard work and preparation in the offseason paid off. WB NEWS: What were some of your most memorable games and highlights in the 2024 season? JACK BALZARINI: The first game of the season when we won 39-0 was certainly a statement game. Playing at Martha’s Vineyard in front of people I know there who also showed up to watch me play and cheered me on. We won 41-14. I passed for 302 yards and threw 3 touchdown passes and rushed for another 2 touchdowns. The game against Bourne where I passed for more than 300 yards and threw 7 Touchdown passes was a special night. I had a lot of family and friends in the stands and most importantly my dad was able to attend that game to see me play as the team he is an assistant coach for at Taunton was off that night. I did not even realize at the time that throwing 7 touchdown passes of 47, 15, 30, 49, 21, 66 and 10 yards broke a Massachusetts state playoff record. WB NEWS: Why do you wear green shoes, socks, and mouthpiece at each game? JACK BALZARINI: It is to honor my mom (Judy Balzarini). Green was her favorite color and has become a symbol of her memory. She never missed a single game or any event or anything I did in my life. She passed away during the 2023 football season from cancer. The Carver football team and community wore green socks in honor and memory of her which meant a lot. There is also a page dedicated to honoring her and her green called Judy’s Crew on Facebook. I believe she is now my guardian angel watching over me and guiding me from above with her spirit. She will always be my lucky green clover and inspiration. The Green Cleats, mouthpiece and socks I wear every game are all to honor her memory. WB NEWS: Is there anyone or people that you would like to thank for their support during your football as well as your athletic career in all sports that you played in your life and why? JACK BALZARINI: Foremost, my parents Michael and Judy Balzarini, who always supported me and never missed a game. All my coaches from youth to High School. My teammates for all the endless workouts, our relationships and pushing each other to get better. My sister Keira Balzarini, relatives, and friends for the unconditional care, dedication, and support. WB NEWS: What are your goals after you graduate from Carver High School in 2025? JACK BALZARINI: I intend to go to college and play football. Up until this season I was always viewed as a defensive player or wide receiver. With all the success from this season and switching positions, I have received a lot of feedback that I could play Quarterback in college. The only problem is I am not really on any colleges radar now for this position, I would like to pursue playing Quarterback, if possible, in college as I always like a challenge if given the opportunity. WB NEWS: Why should a college or university recruit you as a football player and what type of person would they get by recruiting you to play for their team? JACK BALZARINI: The Number one reason is that I Love the game of Football. I grew up in a Football Family, My Dad Michael (Mike) Balzarini played 23 years in his life in football and was an Outstanding Offensive Lineman who was part of 9 Eastern League championship teams in the semi-professional league with the Marlboro Shamrocks, as well as United States Football Association National Championship teams and honored as an AFA All American. Football was all around me growing up. My Football IQ is above average. I put the time and effort into making myself better every day to be the best I can be. Determination! Before I was a Quarterback, all I wanted to do was catch the ball. Hundreds of catches every day, I made myself into a sure handed receiver and did not drop many balls. Fast forward to the 2024 season. I started training a few weeks after the 2023 season ended and threw the ball every day, working on Drills and Technique. I didn't even go on vacation during the summer of 2024 because I had a good routine going. I only had one shot at this, so I put everything I had into it, “All In” as they say. After only one season as a Starting Quarterback, my film on Hudl and my numbers speak for themselves. If I can be this productive and one of the top producing QBs in the state of Massachusetts after only one season, imagine what the future holds. Lastly, I feel that I would absolutely flourish in a College Football Program and really push myself to be the best I can be in a top program. I really have come to love the challenge of the Quarterback position and all I want is an opportunity. The team that I play for is going to get a 100% competitive, dedicated football player and a great teammate. HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL STATS/ACCOLADES: STATS: 2024 SEASON: TOTAL YARDS OF OFFENSE: 2,775 PASSING YARDS: 2,229 RUSHING YARDS: 546 TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS: 40 TDS PASSING TOUCHDOWNS: 25 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 15 CAREER OFFENSE STATS: TOTAL YARDS OF OFFENSE. 3,398 PASSING ATTEMPTS/COMPLETIONS/YARDS: 121/217 for 2,353 yards RUSHING ATTEMPTS AND YARDS: 97- 632 yards. 6.5 average TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS: 51 PASSING TOUCHDOWNS: 29 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 16 RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: 5 DEFENSE STATS: TOTAL TACKLES: 87 TACKLES FOR A LOSS: 15 INTERCEPTIONS: 1 TOUCHDOWNS: 1 Fumble Return SPECIAL QUARTERBACK STATS: More than a dozen pass completions over 30 yards and 5 pass completions over 50 yards in one season. ACCOLADES: Broke and set the Massachusetts State Record for Most TD Passes in a State Playoff Game - 7 Tied Massachusetts State Record for Most TD passes in a Game - 7 All Star South Shore Football League Quarterback - 2024 Nominated 9 Times for Patriot Ledger Offensive Player of the Week - 2024 Boston Globe Player of the Week 5 Times - 2024 Boston Herald Stars of the Week 4 Times - 2024 Sports Illustrated Nation Athlete of the Week Nominee Week of 11/18/24 Nominated for Patriot Ledger Play of the Year 2024 Semi Finalist for WATD Bill Wilhelm Award - 2024 M2 QB Academy Week 11 ALPHA - 2024 Carver Football Team Captain – 2023 and 2024 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BIO/CONTACT INFORMATION: BIO: Height and Weight: 6’2” 195 lbs Positions Played QB, WR, Safety, Defensive End, Outside Linebacker, Punter (2024) & Long-snapper on PAT/FG (2024) 4-year Varsity Letter Winner, 3 Year Starter on Offense, 3 Year Starter on Defense Graduation Class: 2025 Special Camps or Academy for development attended: M2 QB Academy, Cape Cod QB Academy, BONE Best of New England Camp FILM/VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: hudl.com/profile/17711401/Ja… RECRUIT ME CONTACT INFORMATION: (774) 510-6287 [email protected] @BalzariniJack X (formerly Twitter) @BalzariniJack @Balza79Michael @sports_ledger @BrocktonSports @ChrisMcDaniel88 @GlobeSchools @BostonHeraldHS @CoachDaniels06 @QBHitList @One11Recruiting @Coach_Carney65 @graham_dietz @TrevorHass @NationalPID @theCoachLang @TheRichMaclone @ScottC_Scout @TopPreps @scoutletic @LL7NV @CoastRecruits @newftbj @CamMerritt_News @PRZ_CoachQuisse @kstone06 @mukala_K @robertholmes630 @emchugh229 @GlobeLars @JDHERALDHS @nweitzer7 @BradJoyal @BrianRoachJr @Chezsports @CoachBlanchard2 @BSU_Football_ @NicholsBisonFB @CurryFootball @FootballBentley @WSU_LancerFB @tomecurran @TomBrady