Colton's Sorensen Enjoys Family First
Being the youngest of five brothers, Colton High School safety Daniel Sorensen is used to being picked on. But thanks to the success of the Yellowjackets, Sorensen is now the one doing the picking.
While his older brothers, ranging in age from 19 to 29, had preceded him at Colton, they were unable to help the Yellowjackets qualify for the CIF-Southern Section semifinals. After last Friday's 39-22 quarterfinal victory over Moreno Valley's Rancho Verde, Daniel is in a place that no other Sorensen has been.
"Before the season, I was talking to my brothers and asked them if they'd be jealous if I made it to the semis or won a CIF-(Southern Section) title," Daniel said, with a bit of a grin. "They said they'd be happy, but they definitely said they'd be jealous a bit."
Playing on that sentiment, Daniel sent an e-mail to 19-year old brother Brad - who is in Spain on a mission for the Mormon Church - right after the Rancho Verde win, filling in his brother on Colton's first semifinal appearance since 1982 while throwing in a couple of well-placed digs.
As of Wednesday, Daniel hadn't received a response from Brad, but eagerly anticipated the reaction to his gloating.
"Yeah, I talked a little trash," Sorensen said. "I had to let him know that my team made it while his team didn't. I'm sure I'll get something creative back, but it was fun to write."
Sorensen had every right to talk a little smack to his older brother, as he was a big
reason why the Yellowjackets were able to prevail over the Mustangs. He intercepted Rancho Verde quarterback Justin Salazar twice, including once in his own end zone, and caused a fumble which Travell Washington returned 95 yards for a game-changing touchdown.
Having Sorensen in the middle of key plays wasn't something unexpected. It's almost assumed now, as the 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior has been making big plays since joining the varsity squad as a sophomore.
"When there is a key situation, you expect that Daniel is going to make the big play," Colton coach Harold Strauss said. "I expect it, his teammates expect it, the fans expect it. Everyone looks up to Daniel and expects him to come through huge."
Sorensen has come through huge, whether it be with interceptions or with bone-jarring hits. It's the latter that really gets his teammates fired up.
"Daniel is the man back there," Colton senior Nick Reyes said. "You know that when you are on defense that you have his back. You see him back there, just knocking people around, and it almost hurts you to watch. He really gets after it."
Sorensen has been getting after it from a young age, starting as a ball boy on the Colton sidelines watching his older brothers. His skill, size and intensity have already earned him a commitment from BYU.
It doesn't shock Strauss that Sorensen is headed to play Division I football. He had the feeling that Sorensen was the best of the bunch even when he was a little kid fetching balls.
"You just had this feeling that he was special," Strauss said. "You'd watch this kid running around, playing catch and you could tell that he had a gift."
While he can't exactly translate his size, which has him possibly transitioning to linebacker at BYU, or his skill, he does his best to spread his calm confidence to others.
That's exactly what Sorensen did with junior quarterback Nick Vasquez. Vasquez was put in charge of heading up an offense with experienced backfield talent in Reyes, Washington and D.J. Stallion and quite frankly, was over his head early on.
But instead of panicking, Strauss had Sorensen, who had limited quarterback experience, work with Vasquez and take up starting duties until the junior was ready to roll.
"We needed someone to show Nick what it took to play at this level and what needed to be done," Strauss said. "There's really no better person than Daniel. He's got so much football knowledge."
President Thomas S. Monson
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Today at their first news conference.
Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January 2008.
The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.
