Way-back Playback: Joe Mauer, the best quarterback that never was
Joe Mauer and football don't mesh together these days, but more than a decade ago, they were synonymous.
The MLB All-Star is known for his high batting average, clutch hitting and stellar defense. But in his high school days at Cretin-Derham Hall, Mauer was a gifted quarterback.
Simply put, he was the No. 1 recruit in the nation.
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Mauer had a rocket for an arm, read the defense and had mobility.
Recruited by Florida State, Arizona and Michigan, among others, the clock began ticking in his senior year as to which sport he would eventually pursue.
On the gridiron, he threw for more than 2,800 yards in his senior year (more than 5,500 for his career), including 41 touchdowns.
On the diamond, he traveled the world with the U.S. Junior National Team.
Baseball or football was a tough choice, considering he was also projected as a first-round MLB draft pick.
When National Signing Day came around, he turned down his offers and elected for the June baseball draft, going first overall to the hometown Minnesota Twins.
He became the Joe Mauer we know today, leaving us to wonder who the other side of the athlete could have been.