Zack Annexstad and Art Sitkowski were both high school QB's due to graduate in 2018, but after you get past that they didn't have much in common. They lived 1000 miles apart with Annexstad growing up in Minnesota and Sitkowski in New Jersey. That all changed in 2017 as they each sought to enhance their football playing skills by heading to Florida to play for IMG Academy. Does this look like the weight room at the HS you attended? I hope they had time for Algebra.
Back in 2017, IMG football had two future D-I QB's in Annexstad and Sitkowski. Both QB's played and led IMG to an undefeated season, but Annexstad had the majority of the playing time completing 63 of 112 passes for 940 yards. Sitkowski was 45 for 79 with 370 yards passing. Even though Annexstad had the better numbers at IMG, Sitkowski was the higher rated recruit with better offers. Sitkowski must have flashed some skills at FB camps because he garnered offers from college bluebloods like Ohio St., Michigan, LSU, Florida and Miami. Annexstad fielded scholarship offers from schools like Cincinnati and Pittsburg. He also rec'd an offer from Illinois but I am only listing major college offers. Despite the variety of offers both QB's chose to return home to play for home state universities. Sitkowski signed with Rutgers and Annexstad chose to walk-on at Minnesota despite scholarship offers elsewhere. Even though both QBs were true freshmen they each won the starting job at their respective schools. Annexstad started the first 7 games at Minnesota in 2018 while Sitkowski started 11 games for Rutgers. After a fast start, playing time diminished for both players. Sitkowski transferred after the 2020 season while Annexstad stayed with the Gophers through '21. Sitkowski took his skills to Champaign, IL and the Illini where he was the primary signal caller for 5 games in '21. Sitkowski scored wins over Penn St. and Nebraska. In '22 he needs to recover from injury and then he will complete with a Syracuse transfer for the starting job. Meanwhile Zack has also decided to take his skills to the Land of Lincoln by committing to the Illinois State Redbirds and their pursuit of the FCS National title in '22. One man is rapidly becoming familiar with both QB's. Tony Petersen was the Offensive Coord at Illinois in '21, so he coached QB Art Sitkowski. Petersen is now the OC at Illinois State so this year he will be coaching Zack Annexstad. Small world, sooner or later everybody crosses paths with everybody, sometimes more than once. When school is out in May, Annexstad, Sitkowski and Petersen are all flying off to the Bimini islands to appear in an indie film with Kevin Bacon.
Back in 2017, IMG football had two future D-I QB's in Annexstad and Sitkowski. Both QB's played and led IMG to an undefeated season, but Annexstad had the majority of the playing time completing 63 of 112 passes for 940 yards. Sitkowski was 45 for 79 with 370 yards passing. Even though Annexstad had the better numbers at IMG, Sitkowski was the higher rated recruit with better offers. Sitkowski must have flashed some skills at FB camps because he garnered offers from college bluebloods like Ohio St., Michigan, LSU, Florida and Miami. Annexstad fielded scholarship offers from schools like Cincinnati and Pittsburg. He also rec'd an offer from Illinois but I am only listing major college offers. Despite the variety of offers both QB's chose to return home to play for home state universities. Sitkowski signed with Rutgers and Annexstad chose to walk-on at Minnesota despite scholarship offers elsewhere. Even though both QBs were true freshmen they each won the starting job at their respective schools. Annexstad started the first 7 games at Minnesota in 2018 while Sitkowski started 11 games for Rutgers. After a fast start, playing time diminished for both players. Sitkowski transferred after the 2020 season while Annexstad stayed with the Gophers through '21. Sitkowski took his skills to Champaign, IL and the Illini where he was the primary signal caller for 5 games in '21. Sitkowski scored wins over Penn St. and Nebraska. In '22 he needs to recover from injury and then he will complete with a Syracuse transfer for the starting job. Meanwhile Zack has also decided to take his skills to the Land of Lincoln by committing to the Illinois State Redbirds and their pursuit of the FCS National title in '22. One man is rapidly becoming familiar with both QB's. Tony Petersen was the Offensive Coord at Illinois in '21, so he coached QB Art Sitkowski. Petersen is now the OC at Illinois State so this year he will be coaching Zack Annexstad. Small world, sooner or later everybody crosses paths with everybody, sometimes more than once. When school is out in May, Annexstad, Sitkowski and Petersen are all flying off to the Bimini islands to appear in an indie film with Kevin Bacon.