BY MARC NARCUCCI
MALVERN, PA--Not much fazed Jake Bauer when he was starring for the Malvern Prep football team. The senior fullback-linebacker always kept a cool head on the field, focused on making the next play.
And there were plenty of them that he made, evidenced by the 223 career tackles and seven career interceptions.
Yet even Bauer admits he was a little in awe when he walked into the office of an eight-time Super Bowl winning coach in late January.
Bauer was making a football visit to the University of North Carolina, a school he would commit to before leaving to return home.
The biggest name at North Carolina and arguably college football is Bill Belichick, who was named North Carolina’s head football coach on Dec. 11.
Bauer was having a one-on-one conversation with the person who guided the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl championships as its head coach. He also earned two Super Bowl rings as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants.
Belichick inspires a sense of awe when meeting with professional football players. Imagine how a high school player would feel.
“I walked into his office and thought to myself ‘holy crap, that is coach Belichick,’” Bauer recalled in a phone interview with Philadelphiasportsdigest.com. “It was pretty crazy.”
No crazier than the path Bauer has taken to his future destination.
First off, it’s easy to see why a football coach with Belichick’s pedigree would be seeking the services of Bauer.
This past season, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound Bauer was named the MVP of the Inter-Ac League. As a middle linebacker, he was a leading figure on one of the best defenses in the area.
Malvern Prep went 8-2 overall and for the second straight year, was 5-0 in winning the Inter-Ac. In five Inter-Ac games, the Friars allowed a total of 21 points and recorded three shutouts.
Bauer had 70 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown, 11 tackles for loss, including two sacks, two blocked punts, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
On offense as a short-yardage fullback, he rushed for 159 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries and had one reception for 13 yards and a score.
He was a versatile linebacker who could blow up a running play but also had the agility to cover running backs out of the backfield or tight ends.
Malvern Prep's Jake Bauer commits to play for UNC under legendary head coach Bill Belichick. (Photo/ Jake Bauer)
MP's Jake Bauer scores TD in game on 10/11/24 vs. Episcopal Academy. (PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren)
How Bauer connected with UNC
Bauer had been originally committed to Navy. Things changed when in late January he received a text from North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi.
This is the same Lombardi who has spent more than three decades as an executive in the NFL. He has worked for the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Eagles and Cleveland Browns.
“I got a text from coach Lombardi who said he liked my film and asked if I wanted to come for a visit,” Bauer said.
Philadelphiasportsdigest.com requested an interview with Lombardi, but it was denied by a North Carolina spokesperson, who said, “Michael is not available for interviews at this time.”
Bauer had been originally committed to Navy. Things changed when in late January he received a text from North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi.
This is the same Lombardi who has spent more than three decades as an executive in the NFL. He has worked for the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, Eagles and Cleveland Browns.
“I got a text from coach Lombardi who said he liked my film and asked if I wanted to come for a visit,” Bauer said.
Philadelphiasportsdigest.com requested an interview with Lombardi, but it was denied by a North Carolina spokesperson, who said, “Michael is not available for interviews at this time.”
What Lombardi viewed on film, is something that Malvern Prep coach Dave Gueriera has been seeing for his entire career.
“Jake is a special player, and we have been saying that the last two years to any college who would listen,” Gueriera said.
Players like Bauer have their film on Hudl, which can be seen by colleges. Actually, his film can be seen by anybody on the internet.
The recruiting process hit full stride when North Carolina assistant coach Bob Diaco visited Bauer at Malvern Prep and talked to both him and Gueriera.
University of North Carolina Commit Jake Bauer. (PSD photo by Lennie Malmgren)
“I talked to coach Diaco, and they loved his film and felt like he would be a great fit in their system,” Gueriera said.
Shortly after meeting with Diaco, Bauer decided to make an official visit to North Carolina.
Once there, Bauer said he liked everything about the campus, the academics, and of course, a coach with such an illustrious NFL career.
“I was a little nervous,” Bauer said of his meeting with his future coach.
Then the two quickly talked a common language of football.
“We talked about what type of defense they would run,” Bauer said. “Coach talked to me about what he liked about my play and where I would fit into the defense.”
Imagine, talking x’s and o’s with the winningest Super Bowl coach in NFL history. Belichick complimented Bauer on his pass coverage.
“He brought up that he liked how I dropped back in coverage,” Bauer said.
The only difficult part was telling Navy that he was switching schools, but even that went well, according to Bauer.
“They understood,” Bauer said. “They were very supportive.”
Bauer understands that it will take a lot of hard work to get on the field, but this is nothing new to the Malvern Prep senior and he is up for the challenge.
“Obviously with a new coaching staff and new players coming in, nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “I know I will just have to work my butt off.”
As he is now preparing for the next level, Bauer still must assure himself that this is all happening, playing for such a decorated coach.
“I still don’t really believe it,” he said. “It will probably set in during the summer, but for now it doesn’t feel real.”