High school football: Hampshire QB Jake Vincent, WR Jared Hornbeck bound for Robert Morris

Hampshire quarterback Jake Vincent felt a connection with Robert Morris University football coach Jared Williamson and appreciates what the Eagles have going with their 6-year-old NAIA program.

Almost as integral in Vincent’s decision was that his football cohort Jared Hornbeck also wanted to play for Robert Morris.

The two friends have played sports together since second grade. Vincent led the area in passing the last two seasons; Hornbeck led the area in receptions this season. They work out together, watch game video together, do almost everything together.

And that will not change, since the Whip-Purs’ dynamic duo will play for the Eagles next season. Vincent and Hornbeck recently decided they should finish their football careers together, and both announced they were headed to the Chicago school.

“There was a lot of thought to it,” Hornbeck said. “We both thought we could excel on and off the field there, so we thought it was the best fit for us. We’ve had a lot of success at the high school level, so it’ll be great to keep that going in college.”

Hornbeck (6-foot, 172 pounds) was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team receiver after posting area-best totals in receptions (66), yards (1,235) and touchdowns (15). Vincent threw for 2,665 yards as a junior and led the area with 2,318 this season. Hornbeck and Vincent put up those numbers in nine games as the 3-6 Whips missed the playoffs.

“We found a lot of success, but I wish our team could have had some more wins,” Hornbeck said.

Vincent (6-1, 165) was a Northwest Herald All-Area honorable mention after throwing for 51 touchdowns in the last two seasons. He had interest from NCAA Division I schools Wyoming and Dayton (which plays in the nonscholarship Pioneer Football League) and D-II’s Northwest Missouri State and Grand Valley State.

“I really liked Coach Williamson. That’s really why I wanted to go to Robert Morris,” Vincent said. “They’re building something special at Robert Morris. We thought Robert Morris was our best chance to play together at a smaller school.”

Robert Morris will return starting quarterback Kenyatte Allen, who will be a senior. Vincent hopes he can have three years as a starter. Hornbeck, likewise, looks at a receiving corps with one returning starter and hopes to compete right away.

Robert Morris, which plays its home games at Morris Field in Arlington Heights, won the Mid-States Football Alliance last season, then lost to Marian, Indiana, 32-7, in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.