The lasting image in Rogers coach Gene Bowen’s mind of Tyler VanSligtenhorst is of his quarterback leaping over defenders.
“He has hurdled a number of players,” Bowen recalled. “It’s something else, this small guy jumping over big defensive players. He’s just done that a number of times.”
VanSligtenhorst has cleared one last hurdle in his high school career. The 5-foot-9 senior was chosen as The News Tribune’s All-Area football player of the year.
VanSligtenhorst, who also plays defensive back and returns punts, is a true triple threat. He scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. South Puget Sound League South Division coaches thought enough of VanSligtenhorst to name him the league’s offensive back of the year.
“He’s a complete player,” Bethel coach Gavin Kralik said. “On offense, he can beat you with his arm and his feet. He makes great decisions. There isn’t a flaw there.”
VanSligtenhorst guided Rogers’ spread offense, which was held to fewer than 28 points only once this season, to soaring heights. He passed for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 16 touchdowns and 1,009 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per carry.
On defense, he intercepted five passes, including one that he returned 61 yards for a touchdown in the Rams’ 55-14 win over Lake Stevens in the preliminary round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
VanSligtenhorst, an All-Area selection at defensive back last year, helped ninth-ranked Rogers (10-2) to a share of the SPSL South title but did not play as much defense this season as he has in the past because Bowen wanted to keep him fresh for offense. That suited some coaches just fine.
“He was the best defensive back we played against the last two seasons,” Kralik said. “We tried to stay away from him when he was in the game and he still made plays against us.”
VanSligtenhorst also led the SPSL South in punt returns, averaging 22.3 yards. It is doing this that VanSligtenhorst sees an avenue to playing football in college.
“I like punt returning,” he said. “Not a lot of people do because you’re out there all alone and you can get drilled. It’s fun for me.”
While his lack of height might be considered a hindrance at other positions, as punt returner it would benefit him. VanSligtenhorst can break long runs because of his power and speed.
Those attributes, Bowen says, are what make VanSligtenhorst so successful on the field.
“He is very quick and has that top speed, the high gear,” he said. “Put that together with his strength – his legs and upper body are so strong – and he is one heck of a football player.”
VanSligtenhorst made that very clear shortly after transferring to Rogers as a sophomore from Cascade Christian. The Rams already had a quarterback, though, so he switched to receiver. But two games into the season, Bowen made a change and went with VanSligtenhorst as his quarterback. He threw a pass for a 99-yard touchdown in his first start.
“We revamped the offense in one week and he’s been our quarterback ever since,” Bowen said. “His football savvy is unrivaled. He understands the game and what defenses are trying to do.”
VanSligtenhorst has received little interest from recruiters despite his mastery of the offense. He sees players that possess the “measurables” – specifically height and weight – that college coaches crave, but don’t always deliver on the field, continue to get scholarship offers.
“There are very few players,” Kralik said, “that get more out of their ability than he does.”
Meanwhile, only Western Washington has expressed strong interest in VanSligtenhorst. He opened the Vikings’ eyes at a summer camp as a defensive back.
VanSligtenhorst said he would like to return punts and kicks, line up as a slot receiver or play in the secondary at the next level.
“With the ball in my hand I can do something special,” he said. “In the slot, returning kicks or punts. I know I can play. I just want a chance.”
Bowen thinks that VanSligtenhorst can succeed in college and the school that snaps him up will be getting a gem.
“There is no doubt in my mind,” he said. “He matches up against any player out there in strength, knowledge and skill.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
