BYU NewsNet - BYU FOOTBALL: Top-notch high school QB picks Y

The 2009 season hasn’t even started, but the battle for BYU’s 2010 quarterback spot couldn’t get much hotter as five-star quarterback recruit Jake Heaps announced his intention to enroll at BYU after he graduates from high school next year.

Heaps, who just completed his junior year at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., held a press conference in Salt Lake City to announce his decision. He started off by thanking those close to him — including his parents and coaches — for their support before sending a crowd of a hundred or so Cougar fans into a frenzy by donning a BYU cap.

Heaps is regarded by scout.com as the top high school quarterback in the country and should compete with Riley Nelson, who recently transferred to BYU from Utah State to replace Max Hall in 2010.

“I wanted to make my decision as early as possible, and I felt like now is the time,” Heaps said. “I felt like I’ve done a lot of thorough research and I was just waiting for that epiphany to come. Just recently I received that and I knew BYU was the place for me. I’m lucky I found it.”

Heaps has led his high school to two consecutive state championships and thrown for 6,104 yards and 69 touchdowns during his two seasons as starting quarterback. He also has 21 rushing touchdowns. He had been offered scholarships by 26 schools, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford and UCLA, among others, before choosing BYU.

As if the day couldn’t get any better for BYU, Heaps brought with him two other standout high school players who also committed to play in Provo.

Ross Apo, who is ranked the 56th best wide receiver in the country by scout.com, had previously verbally committed to play for the University of Texas before announcing his plans to play for BYU. Apo attends The Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas.

Also making an appearance was linebacker Zac Stout, a junior at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif., scout.com ranks Stout as the fifth best middle linebacker in the country. His commitment will surely help rid Cougar fans of the disappointment left when Manti Te’o, another top five linebacker recruit, chose to attend Notre Dame instead of BYU several months ago.

“Fans will forget about Manti,” Stout said. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of athletic ability, and I’ll just try to put that out on the field and give it all I’ve got.”

The trio said they chose to announce their intentions at this time because of the junior day being held at BYU starting on Friday. Many high school juniors from around the country will descend on LaVell Edwards Stadium, and this announcement could entice other talented players to choose BYU over other schools.

“We have an opportunity to go to junior day tomorrow with our heads held high as BYU Cougars,” Heaps said.

While Heaps, Apo and Stout verbally committed to play for BYU, their national signing day will not take place until February 2010. The three are not formally obligated to play for BYU until they sign a letter of intent at that time.