Why did Jake DeHaan choose to play football at Toledo?

South Christian quarterback Jake DeHaan dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Grand Rapids Christian in Week 1 on Aug. 26, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Jake DeHaan got home late from playing a baseball doubleheader on Wednesday night. He was exhausted and still had homework to do.

That’s the life of a three-sport athlete.

But the senior at Grand Rapids South Christian High School will only be playing one sport in college.

DeHaan committed to play football at the University of Toledo on Tuesday as a preferred walk-on.

“It came down to wanting to push myself to my abilities and to follow my dreams,” DeHaan said. “I like the challenges socially and academically at Toledo. The other schools were great, too.”

DeHaan had offers to play football from Hope College, Calvin College, Dort College and Grand Valley State University.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback helped lead South Christian to a 14-0 record and the Division 4 state championship in the fall. In the title game - a 28-0 win over Goodrich - DeHaan was 14-of-21 passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 99 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 4,056 yards of total offense and had 56 combined touchdowns.  

Jake DeHaan, right, celebrates scoring a touchdown with teammate Jake Vermaas against Unity Christian on Oct. 28, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

“Grand Valley watched me during the season and they offered me a preferred walk on,” DeHaan said. “But Toledo saw my film late.”

How late?

“Not until three weeks ago,” he said. “(South Christian football coach Danny) Brown sent my video to their QB coaches and said they really liked me. I went down there and they were really welcoming and they offered me a preferred walk-on spot.” 

Brown said earlier this year that DeHaan is an ideal quarterback.

“He’s got all the skill sets you want from the leadership standpoint,” Brown said. “Obviously, he has the skillset (on the field) when you look at the touchdowns, the 4,000 yards (of total offense). Also the intangibles. He’s like having a coach on the field. He understands what the defenses are doing. He’s got that ‘It factor’. Some guys have it and some guys don’t. He’s been blessed to have it.”

So what was it about Toledo?
“I like the atmosphere and their recent success,” DeHaan said. “They just won the MAC championship and I wanted to be part of it. They run a lot of RPOs (run, pass options) and I like that.”

South Christian’s Jake DeHaan plays against Ferndale in the Division 2 state finals at the Breslin Center on March 25, 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

DeHaan is a pretty good basketball player, too. 

He helped lead the South Christian to a 25-4 record and they made it to the Division 2 state title game in March.

For awhile, he was planning on playing basketball and football in college.  

“With the football year that I had, I wanted to go all in with football to see how good I can be,” DeHaan said. “I really do love basketball and I will miss it. But I’m looking to get really good at football.”

DeHaan said his parents - Alex and Rachel DeHaan - just wanted him to be happy with his college decision. 

“My parents were great,” he said. “They gave me my space. I can’t think of two better people in my life to help me with it. They wanted me to do what was in my heart.”

DeHaan has a 3.89 GPA and plans to get a degree in education.

“I want to be a teacher,” he said. “Not sure what grade level yet. I like kids and maybe I’ll be a coach someday.”

But for now, he has to finished out the baseball season, where he’s an outfielder on the South Christian team. 

South Christian’s Jake DeHaan with his parents Rachel and Alex DeHaan on the basketball team’s Senior Night. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).