San Quentin All-Madden flag football team’s quarterback Royce “Gator” Rose explains how he gradually developed his quarterback skills.
At El Cerrito High School, Rose got his first chance to play the quarterback position. “During my freshman year, my best friend, who played running back, was cut from the team. At that time, we had too many running backs on the team, so I volunteered to play quarterback so I could make the team.”
He commented how he had a sub par quarterback IQ. “I really didn’t know how to run a play, nor did I understand schemes,” said Rose. “I was basically an athlete that threw the ball three to four times a game in a running shoot offense in my freshman year.”
Rose got better as he learned through game experience. He said, “My sophomore year, it took me three games to get on the field. I played for the varsity team and I started to learn the game a bit more.”
Rose played for the Mason and McDuffy baseball team, which is a recreational city team. He played Pop Warner football for the Richmond Steelers. He played baseball, basketball, and football on his high school team, the El Cerrito Gauchos.
“My brother introduced me to sports,” he said. ”I grew up watching him play and it inspired me. I started playing baseball at 8 years old until high school.”
He described his quarterback grade as above average. “I had good skill players, so it made it easier for me. We were all on the same page and it made it easier to play my position.
Rose also plays for the San Quentin A’s baseball team and he attends Patten University’s Prison University Project.
“I’m beginning to become a student athlete,” he said. “I’m taking school more seriously. When I went to college on the outside, I did just enough to get by.”
