Team: Argyle Liberty Christian Warriors
Gunslinger: Nick Starkel
2014 season stats and end result: 1,609 passing yards, 19 TD’s, 4 Int’s, 106-160 a 65% completion percentage. 7-6 record, lost to St. Thomas Catholic in the second round.
Nick Starkel is a warrior. Not only is his team’s mascot a warrior, but he has dealt with some adversity over the past year which has truly made him the gunslinger he is today.
Before the 2014 season, Starkel wasn’t expected to be Liberty Christian’s starter. Senior quarterback Drew Hunnicutt started their season opener against 3A powerhouse, Celina. Hunnicutt struggled early and Liberty’s head coach decided to give Starkel a shot at the helm of the Warriors’ offense.
Starkel didn’t disappoint.
Now as perfect as the story could have turned out, Starkel did not surmount a comeback after trailing 21-0 heading into the second quarter. Starkel did however finish his Warrior debut going 11 for 20 for 189 yards, including a 35-yards strike to Hunnicutt midway through the third quarter. Hunnicutt was moved to safety after their 47-21 loss to the Bobcats, and Starkel was named the starter the next week.
In seven games, Starkel threw for 1,600 yards and posted a 19:4 TD:INT ratio. His success turned the heads of Division I schools and their recruiting staffs.
Starkel received multiple offers from Texas A&M, Tulane, Old Dominion, Indiana State, Oklahoma State, and even the Ivy League university Yale offered him. Oklahoma State was Starkel’s first offer in late January. After receiving all aforementioned offers, Starkel went with the school who wanted him to play first. Oklahoma State offered Starkel on January 28th; three months later, in mid-April Starkel orally committed to the Cowboys via his Twitter account.
Honored to announce that I have officially committed to Oklahoma State!! God is GREAT and #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/dCBvqIRL7w
— Nick Starkel (@nstarkel2) April 17, 2015
More: Starkel’s Junior Year Highlights
Starkel was invited to the nation’s premier invite-only quarterback camp, the Elite 11. Out of 30 of the country’s top quarterbacks, Starkel was clearly one of the top passers throughout the first six days of the camp.
Former Super Bowl winning quarterback Trent Dilfer said he might be one of the purest passers in the history of the Elite 11. When it came down to select the final 11 out the second cuts from 18 signal-callers, Starkel didn’t make the cut; however he did finish as one of the more respected gunslingers.
USA Today’s national college football writer, Paul Meyerberg said the following statement regarding Starkel’s off-the-field performance at the Elite 11.
“He’s probably the most popular quarterback of the group,” Myerberg wrote. “As well as the quarterback most likely to take the time to congratulate scout team wide receivers — local kids assigned to thanklessly run hundreds of routes — after a nice reception. That Starkel has shined at every stage of the process has really impressed the coaches.”
His natural ability to lead on and off the field separates himself from a lot of the gunslingers who have already made the list. Starkel looks to compete for a state title his senior year. The Warriors took home the TAPPS 4A Division II state trophy, defeating Dallas Christian 28-7. In the 2009 state title contest, the Warriors lost to a familiar foe in Plano Prestonwood 35-17.
Starkel is ready to take on whatever type of diversity comes his way to have the Warriors back on top.
