re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Coach Patrick Surtain was milling around the field following last season’s come-from-behind state championship victory, capping a 14-0 season for Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage when his eyes finally locked on his son, No. 1-ranked cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.

“I was caught up in all the emotion and finally to be able to see him, something inside hit me and tears started flowing from the both of us,” the elder Surtain told 247Sports. “It was a very special moment.”

The two Surtain men now share a special moment before ballgames this year. The elder Surtain lost his mother in December. She lived in Houston but tried to make every game she could to watch her first grandson dating back to his little league days.

“They had a very, very special relationship,” Surtain said. “He was her heart. It was a significant loss to the family. It’s very special that we can pray on the sideline, thank her for her time here and we know she’s watching down over us.”

Several college coaches are watching the younger Surtain now. Ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 4 prospect in America, he has his choice of any program in the country. He is certainly one of the most marquee of targets for both schools to be inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Saturday night’s showdown between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Florida State.

Still hoarse-voiced from this past Friday’s 14-7 win at Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic, the elder Surtain said he’s going to cherish this final season coaching his son before he hands his first of three children off to whichever school wins this mega recruiting battle (Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State and USC are in the picture, with the Tigers holding the lead in the 247Sports Crystal Ball).

Out of Southern Miss, the 41-year old Surtain was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft and played 11 years in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, where he was a two-time All-Pro selection and played in three Pro Bowls. His son started playing when he was five and a few years later he was finally able to attend all the practices and games. Then he decided to coach him.

“Just being out there every day and watching, why not go help and land a hand and pass on some of the things I’ve learned to the younger kids?” he said.

When Patrick Jr. was around 10 that’s when he said his only boy started to really flash his potential.

“He played running back and you can see that athleticism,” Surtain said. “But I knew he was going to be a defensive player because he has instincts you can’t teach. The way he reacted and diagnosed plays as a young defensive back was special. Even though he was a running and scored a lot of touchdowns I thought the defensive side of the ball is where he’d be.”

Surtain Sr. started grooming Patrick Jr. and his prodigy was hungry, taking in the fundamentals his dad learned from the likes of Mel Phillips in the NFL and John Thompson and Dave Wommack at Southern Miss and quickly digesting everything.

“I’m trying to get him to that next level,” Surtain said. “The athleticism, that’s a dime a dozen. I’m trying to get him to understand the game totally, route concepts and how teams are going to try and attack him, not on the high school level because the ball his barely thrown his way but the college level and God-willing further than that. I’m trying to get him to recognize splits and quarterback signals and get him to a sensei level of DB.”

When former American Heritage coach Mike Rumph left two seasons ago to take the cornerbacks job at his alma mater Miami, Surtain stepped up in January to take the gig. He was greeted with an array of talent. Other American Heritage standouts included touted cornerback Tyson Campbell, Miami defensive tackle commit Nesta Silvera, speedy receiver Anthony Schwartz and four-star defensive end Andrew Chatfield.

“I don’t rule with an iron fist,” he said. “That style of coaching is played out. You have to be able to relate to these players. They respect me. They’re at my house almost every weekend. It’s like a big brother weekend. Just trying to teach them the ins and outs about life. Football is one thing but life situations is another thing. I tell them I’m not coaching you to be an NFL player but to be a successful young man in the community. If the NFL is the ultimate goal go for it but at the same time you’ll probably have to come back to this community and be well-rounded in this community.”

Regarding his own son, Surtain says Patrick Jr. still has a ways to go. He said he’s just scratching the surface of how good he can be.

“The intangibles are there,” Surtain Sr. said. “He’s physical, fast, has ball skills, his technique is off the charts. He’ll just keep refining things to be the type of player to reach his pro potential.”

By the end of ninth grade the younger Surtain had more offers than his father did. His dad more than anyone knows being touted doesn’t equate to maximum success. He told his son the “only thing you can control is how you work.”

The accolades are nice, the five-stars, being billed the best at your position, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but that doesn’t phase Surtain Jr.

“I’ve seen him put the work in,” Surtain Sr. said. “He’s beginning to reap the rewards.”

Surtain has been able to visit his top schools from coast to coast.

“Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Coach (Ed) Orgeron, Coach Jimbo Fisher, Dabo Swinney, Coach Mark Richt,” Surtain Sr. said of the ones that have made the biggest impression, adding this is the one time he tells his son to be selfish. “I’m pretty much naming the top seven. Coach (Jim) McElwain at Florida. There are tremendous coaches out there. Coach (Jim) Harbaugh.

“I think he’s going to narrow it down to six schools in the next week or so. He’s been everywhere and seen everything at each place. The only thing left is those official visits and then signing his letter-of-intent. That’s it. We’re not trying to make a big production of it, keep our heads down and be ready to work.”

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