Negative situations can have two results; they either pull us down or they can produce a resilience and an ability to pick yourself up and overcome in ways that only misfortune can. For quarterback, Caleb Melanson, he experienced this said misfortune that made him lose his season due to a knee injury. However, when 2016 rolled around, he came back with a vengeance and proved that he was back on top of his game.
“My most memorable football moment is my first game of the 2016 season, I threw 5 touchdowns, 306 yards passing, and got the win,” he recalled. “It’s the most important to me because when I was in grade 10 during the 2015 season, I hurt my knee in the first game, it required surgery so I lost my season. When I came out and performed like I did in the first game this year it really showed me that I could do it, and that I was not going to let my injury slow me down.”
Let’s back the truck up a minute. Melanson started playing football on the influence of his older brothers and his father. They started playing at a young age and Melanson said he just followed them. From there, he fell in love with the game that he has been playing for eight years now.
“My dad has always been a coach and the person that pushed me the most in my football career. My three brothers, who have all gone through the recruitment process already, always push me and make me the best I can be,” he said.
In the eight years that he has been playing, he was a Nova Scotia division 1 all-star as well as the Offensive MVP for Horton High school in 2016. With roughly 1700 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes that season, Melanson has also played on his provincial team and will be representing them in the Football Canada Cup in Wolfville later on this summer.
Modeling his game after NFLers Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck, Melanson also wants to leave his own mark, “be my own player and do things that no one expects,” he said.
At the quarterback position, this unpredictability can take you far. It’s also a position where you have to be extremely confident and have strong leadership skills both on and off the field. You also have to have solid understanding of the game, the concepts, and the overall game plan if you are to succeed.
“I love the quarterback position because it’s the position everyone looks up to, and I love that. I’m the leader on the field and it’s awesome,” commented the young pivot. “What gives me an edge on the field is my intelligence, coming from a football family gave me a large football IQ. This is crucial, especially at the quarterback position. Knowing exactly where everyone needs to be is a great asset that I have.”
These ‘assets’ will come in handy as Melanson goes to showcase his skill and talent to various scouts and recruiters for the next level. He said his future plans are to play football at the university level and he believes that the habits that he has established with regards to hard work will get him there. The recruiting process has started somewhat for him with getting his name out there and having coaches reach out to him via social media and conversations “here and there”.
“I’m looking forward to showcasing my abilities at the 2017 Canada cup, and hope that my recruitment process will speed up afterwards,” he said. “I have not committed to any post secondary schools and I’m keeping all of my options open at the moment. One thing I do know is that the academic side of the school will play a very large role in my decision.”
While the FCC is just one avenue that some players go down, many others get on the camps and combine circuit which Melanson has also been doing. He said he felt that his performance was above average and that he compared well with the other athletes there.
“I have attended Football University (FBU) camps, Acadia university football camps and Western university football camps. Also many combines – including the maritime combine, and one at Acadia,” he said. “I feel like I measured up well to the other athletes, showing my athleticism and also when we got into the football side of it showing them that I can play. I also excelled in my individual drills with the coaches.”
In order to prepare for this jump when the time comes, Melanson trains with his coaches and athletic trainers to get to the point where he is comfortable with the speed that the next level demands.
“I think that the biggest difference between the two levels is the speed, everything is faster at university,” said the young quarterback. But he isn’t shying away from the challenge as his personal expectations overall for his freshman year will be for him to learn as much as he can, compete everyday, work hard, and hope to get as much playing time as he can.
Besides his Dad and brothers, Melanson’s uncle and grandparents come to all his games and are a huge support to him and his game. Melanson’s mother has been the rock who has anchored this whole journey.
“And finally my mother, who supports me the most in my football, and academic life. She has been there for all of my brothers and is the biggest influence for me in life.”
Football means family and life to this up and coming quarterback, and he finished by saying, “The way that you bond as a team is something you don’t experience in other sports, and the life lessons you learn through the game are incredible.”
Caleb Melanson (#13)
Quarterback
5’10, 185lbs
Teams: Valley Bulldogs Minor football, Horton High School, Team Nova Scotia U16/U17/U18
Commitment: none
Unofficial Visits: none
Official Visits: none
Considerations: open
Class: 2018
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