VERO BEACH – Chase Donnon will get to show off his skills to the masses next month for an NFL team.
The Vero Beach 2026 signal caller was one of four area high school underclassmen who received an invitation to perform at the Jacksonville Jaguars PREP High School Quarterback Skills Challenge on Sunday, Feb. 18.
The other three Treasure Coast quarterbacks invited to the Jaguars camp are:
•Mason Brown (Tradition Prep 2026 quarterback) – Football
•Adrienne Rivera (Fort Pierce Central 2025 quarterback) – Flag Football
•Chaunciona Davis (Fort Pierce Central 2026 quarterback) – Flag Football
It will be the first time that the 6-foot, 160-pound quarterback will participate in this event at Daily’s Place Flex Field in Jacksonville.
“I was invited to last year’s Jaguars QB challenge, but suffered a slight hamstring injury the week of the event so I had to pull out,” Donnon said. “I am really looking forward to this year’s event. Working with QB Coach Denny Thompson from 6 Points Jacksonville has really helped me progress and 6 Points works with the Jaguars to put on this event. It will be great to be out there with all the other great Georgia and Florida quarterbacks that I get to work with at 6 Points.”
Donnon starred on Vero Beach’s junior varsity team this past season. In eight games played, the sophomore posted the following statistics:
•1,286 passing yards
•11 touchdown passes
Donnon on his sophomore season at Vero Beach:
“I started for Vero’s JV team, which gave me a great opportunity to learn from SMU commit Tyler Aronson,” Donnon said. “Tyler became a good friend and helped me a lot throughout. Most games this season I only played the first half because we would be up usually by a pretty good margin.”
Donnon shared a highlight from his sophomore season on the junior varsity level.
“My favorite game this year was against Cardinal Newman,” Donnon said. “Even though I only threw two touchdowns in that game, it was my favorite because the year before starting on the then-freshman team, they beat us 63-0. This season we ended up beating them 22-16 in a great team win.”
Donnon made sure to credit Vero Beach varsity football head coach and athletic director Lenny Jankowski for his overall development at the quarterback position.
“Coach J has been a great coach to me,” Donnon said. “I have been attending practice since eighth grade at Vero. During my eighth grade year I mostly helped and learned Coach J’s offense. Coach J is very hard on the quarterbacks and demands a lot from us, but that has only pushed me to be better.”
Donnon also made sure to mention his other coaches.
“The rest of the coaches on the staff are all great, but I just dont get to work with them as much,” Donnon said. “Coach Bethel works us hard in the weight room. They all make you feel like a family on the team. Coach Lance Roache was my head coach this year for JV, and I loved his energy and confidence in me. Also Coach Parris has always been a great mentor to me during my time with the program.”
Donnon summed it all up by sharing his college football aspirations and his current journey in and of itself.
“I have no college offers yet, but will be attending camps in the near future,” Donnon said. “I will be attending the Dialleo Burks Sr. Football Prospect Camp this Saturday (Jan. 6) at Warner University, and I’m really looking forward to starting 7v7 with Vero and getting to go to all the great schools that Coach J takes us to. My coaches and mentors have all explained to me to just control what I can control at this point, which means working hard in the gym, on the field, and in the classroom. If I do that, everything else will work itself out, and I know God has a plan for me.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Provided Photos
