Tom Pelissero

USA TODAY Sports

Lynch switched to RB before HS varsity career began

He asked to try out for QB after what became Rodgers%27 last game at Cal

RB tallied more than 3%2C000 yards and 25 touchdowns after that point

Marshawn Lynch switched to running back before his varsity career began at Oakland Technical High School. But he apparently hadn't given up his quarterback dreams when he got to college.

George Cortez, the University of California's offensive coordinator in Lynch's first two seasons, recalls a conversation after the Golden Bears lost the Holiday Bowl to Texas Tech in 2004 – star quarterback Aaron Rodgers' final college game before turning pro.

"He came up to me in the restroom and says, 'I want to try out for quarterback this spring," Cortez told USA TODAY Sports this week. "I said, 'Marshawn, it's not Pop Warner. You're a tailback.'"

Lynch, now the Seattle Seahawks' star rusher, stayed put and amassed more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns over the next two seasons before being drafted No. 12 overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2007.

Cortez, now the offensive coordinator for the Canadian Football League champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, said he isn't totally sure if Lynch was serious about the offer. But Cortez wouldn't put it past him.

"He probably was (serious), because he could throw it a long way," Cortez said. "He was an incredible athlete, an incredible player."

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