The second edition of an interview series between Voice of the Strong Paul ‘Boy Green’ Esden and members of the Syracuse Strong football team.
As we progress through the Syracuse Strong (minor league football team) season, the Voice of the team (Paul ‘Boy Green’ Esden) will interview a different player every week talking x’s and o’s, life, and some off the beat and path topics.
Week 1: Press Coverage with Joshua Thomas read here.
Up next, quarterback Jason Boltus.
Here are the facts jack: the Syracuse Strong won over five different championships and awards during the 2018 campaign (per the Strong website):
- AAA Professional Minor League Football National Champions.
- New York State Professional Minor League Football Champions.
- Northeastern Football Alliance League Champions.
- Northeastern Football Alliance Eastern Division Champions.
- Battle for Route Five Trophy Winner.
So in other words, things were going pretty well in nearly every area for the Strong. But heading into the offseason, Syracuse wasn’t complacent, they wanted to continue to improve and they did that by adding in a veteran quarterback who has quite possibly seen and been through everything, his name is Jason Boltus.
The name should sound familiar because Jason was born and raised in Baldwinsville locally and attended Baldwinsville High School. Jason would stay local at the collegiate level attending the University at Albany.
Jason ended up redshirting as a true freshman and said that he just wanted to play and have fun, so he transferred to Hartwick College. He achieved a ton of success including winning the Melberger Award which is the honor bestowed upon the nation’s top Division III player.
With the notierty he had built in college he had earned several opportunities including playing in an All-Star game where he met several CFL coaches that intrigued him. He also participated in the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Pre-draft measurables via the NFL Scouting Combine:
- 6-foot-3.
- 225 pounds.
- 4.82 40-yard dash.
- 26 bench press reps of 225 pounds.
- 31.5-inch vertical jump.
After going undrafted, Boltus decided that the CFL was his best shot at making it spent time with a variety of organizations and also played in the Arena Football League and Indoor Football League as well:
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2009 through 2011)
- Spokane Shock (2012)
- Omaha Nighthawks (2012)
- Utah Blaze (2013)
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2013)
- Orlando Predators (2014)
- Tampa Bay Storm (2015 through 2016)
- Jacksonville Sharks (2017)
But after all the traveling across the country, it was finally time to come home for Jason.