Perra will make a visit to Minnesota this weekend.
Jacque Perra, a 6-3, 210-pound senior quarterback from Roseville (MN) High, was considered the top signal caller in the state. Perra helped lead the Raiders to a 9-3 record, losing to Rosemount in the Class AAAAAA semifinals. Perra will visit Minnesota this weekend, which is suddenly a QB down after the transfer of Phillip Nelson.
Perra was named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and was the St. Paul Pioneer Press Player of the Year. He completed 60.7% of his passes for 3191 yards and 35 touchdowns. Perra had 380 rushing yards and also averaged 37.1 yards per punt. He finished his career with 6967 yards with 63 career scores and ten career rushing touchdowns.
Perra was chosen as a three-time All-Suburban East Conference and was Suburban East Conference MVP. He was named to the Associated Press and Minnesota Vikings All-State teams.
Perra talked to Gopher Hole about the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You have received some nice honors lately as you were named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and the St. Paul Pioneer Press Player of the Year and were one of the ten finalists for the Mr. Football award. How pleased were you with some of the individual award that you have received?
Jacques Perra: I am really pleased. I have had my fair share of awards, I guess, so it was nice to see Jeff (Jones), I have known Jeff for quite awhile, to get this award. He deserves it a lot, so I think that it is good that he won it.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? Where do things stand? I know that the Gophers offered you a preferred walk-on opportunity.
Jacques Perra: They offered me that at the end of the summer and I am kind of interested in that, but some of the smaller Division I schools like South Dakota State and Northern Iowa and I am starting to hear from some bigger schools like Northwestern just e-mailed me the other day. They want to see my transcript and grades. That is nice. My coach is reaching out to some other coaches that he has known for awhile.
Gopher Hole: How is the shoulder? I saw you wearing the sling earlier?
Jacques Perra: It is fine. I had surgery on it because it has been getting dislocated quite a bit this season, but I’ll be fine for spring ball. It is no big deal.
Gopher Hole: When are you going to graduate?
Jacques Perra: My school does trimesters, so I am going to try to graduate after the second trimester.
Gopher Hole: Hopefully, you would be able to attend some of the spring practice, but you just wouldn’t be able to participate, right?
Jacques Perra: I’m not sure how that works yet, but I’ll have to figure out with that school.
Gopher Hole: What is going to be the main factor that makes you pick School A over School B or C?
Jacques Perra: Probably how much I feel that they want me instead of me wanting them, so how much they reach out and talk to me and if they offer me or not. I feel like if I go to the “U,” I might never play, but it would be a good experience, but if I go to a smaller school like South Dakota State, I have a good chance of starting earlier, so that is probably going to make a big difference.