COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - It's perhaps not astonishing Trey Feeney has become a star quarterback.
 
Given his family background, it might have been more surprising if he hadn't.
 
The Saint John's junior is the son of Moorhead High School head coach Kevin Feeney, who himself was a four-year starting quarterback at North Dakota State University and still ranks among the Bison's all-time leaders in both passing yardage and touchdowns.
 
Kevin, in turn, is the son of North Dakota high school coaching legend Bob Feeney, who won a pair of state titles in his 36-year career. And Trey's younger brother Jett, a junior, is turning heads as the current starting quarterback on his father's team at Moorhead.
 
So a focus on offensive X's and O's definitely runs in the Feeney bloodline.
 
"It wasn't one of those things where we didn't have a choice, but to be honest, playing quarterback does kind of run in the family," said Trey, who will be under center for the Johnnies (9-1) when they open NCAA Division III playoff action against Monmouth of Illinois (9-1) in a second-round matchup scheduled for noon Saturday in Clemens Stadium.
 
"Growing up, we played all the positions. We had to learn what a tight end does, what a running back does, what a linebacker does. But by the time (Jett and I both) got into middle school, quarterback felt like the natural spot for us."
 
That's certainly reflected in the numbers 6-foot-3, 205-pound Feeney has put up this season. Despite rotating with senior Zander Dittbenner by series for the first half of the season as SJU went through the process of settling on a starter, Feeney still finished the regular season second in the MIAC in both passing yardage (2,691) and touchdowns (32) – earning a spot on the All-MIAC first team announced this week.
 
"He's able to process information very quickly," SJU head coach Gary Fasching '81 said. "The average fan might not see it watching him, but he gets through his reads really rapidly. 
 
"Whereas the average quarterback at this level might only get through his first and second reads, Trey is able to get to the third and fourth, which opens up a lot of different options in the passing game."
 
Feeney said some of that ability no doubt comes from being the son of a head coach.
 
"Even when we were watching football on Saturdays and Sundays growing up, my dad was coaching us," he said. "It wasn't that intense. It's not like he was locked in 100 percent of the time. But he'd point out certain plays and ask us what the coverage was or where the quarterback should have gone with the ball. 
 
"There was a lot of learning that went on there, even in front of the TV at home."
 
Feeney – who spent over three years as a backup at FCS North Dakota before transferring to SJU at the semester break last January – has followed a path similar to Jackson Erdmann '19, a multi-time All-American quarterback for the Johnnies from 2016-19 and the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy recipient. 
 
Erdmann too was the son of his high school head coach (Rosemount High School's Jeff Erdmann) and began his collegiate career elsewhere (Penn State) before thriving upon his arrival in Collegeville.
 
Erdmann is also one of the many former SJU quarterbacks Feeney has called on for advice as he's settled into his role this fall.
 
"There's actually a bunch of quarterback alumni who have their own group chat and it's been so cool to be part of it," said Feeney, an exercise and health science major. "There are a lot of successful dudes on there. Getting the chance to talk to them, and pick their brains on a regular basis, has been valuable to me both on and off the field."
 
Feeney has also continued to rely on Ditttbenner, a talented quarterback in his own right who continues to be featured on selected plays in an attempt to keep opposing defenses off-balance and take advantage of the 6-foot, 200-pound Mankato West High School graduate's skills as a runner.
 
"Zander could not have been more awesome," Feeney said. "After the coaches told us what the plans were (following a win over Macalester on Oct. 11), he texted me to tell me he was there for me and he hasn't missed a beat. 
 
"He's such a leader on this team, and he's continued to come to bring the same energy every day," he continued. "I know I can always go to him and talk over stuff in practice or in games. That's helped so much. 
 
"Everyone on this team just wants to do whatever it takes to help us win games."
 
That sense of camaraderie is a big part of why Feeney chose SJU in the first place.
 
"When I decided to go into the (transfer) portal, I was looking for three things," he said. "I wanted a place with a winning tradition in football, I wanted an offensive philosophy that fit my style of play and I wanted a place where I could be involved in the game-planning process behind the scenes because I want to be a coach myself down the line.
 
"Saint John's nailed all three of those boxes. I love the coaching staff here. I already knew (offensive coordinator) Kole (Heckendorf) a little coming in because he played at NDSU like my dad. But both he and (quarterbacks coach) Josh (Bungum) are great with trusting the quarterbacks and tailoring the offense to fit their skills. Everything feels right here. There's not a day that's gone by when I've questioned my decision even the slightest bit."
 
It's been a big fall for the Feeney family. While Trey has been winning games at SJU, Kevin and Jett have been turning heads back in Moorhead, helping lead the Spuds to a berth in the Class 6A state title game in the school's first season in Minnesota's largest class – a run that ended with a loss to Edina in the Prep Bowl last Friday (Nov. 21). 
 
And, because nine of Moorhead's games were played in the Twin Cities, Trey was able to be on hand much of the way for what turned into mini-family reunions.
 
"My grandma on my dad's side still lives in Bismarck, and she made the trip to Moorhead every Friday morning," Trey said. "Then she'd go to the Twin Cities with my mom (Jamie, a former NDSU soccer player who is now an architect in Fargo) and my sister (Ellie, a junior on the soccer team at the University of Mary in Bismarck). 
 
"They'd connect with my aunts and uncles and stay in the Twin Cities overnight. Then Saturday, they'd come to Saint John's to watch me before making their way home. It's been a pretty busy time, but it's been a lot of fun too."
 
Now Trey is hoping to keep the good times rolling by leading SJU on a deep postseason run.
 
"Winning a national championship is the ultimate goal for everyone on this team," he said. "That hasn't happened here since 2003, and it would mean so much to be able to bring another one home.
 
"But we know we have to take it week-by-week. That starts this week against Monmouth. They're a really good team and that's where all our focus needs to be. We want to come out of Saturday with a win, then turn our attention to whatever comes next."