Before They Were NFL All-Pros, They Were Prep Stars
Anwar Stetson
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Reliving the High School Moments of the NFL’s Best QB’s
It’s one of the most unifying times in America. Football’s back. As the NFL kicked off for another season this past week, some of the league’s biggest stars faced off in thrilling matchups. But the NFL’s stars we know today were once just local school kids. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and re-live their best high school moments.
PATRICK MAHOMES: Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Patrick Mahomes is already one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history, and he’s still only 29 years old. Heading into his eighth season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl MVP, and six-time Pro Bowler. The prototype of the modern NFL quarterback, Mahomes has all the fundamentals for success: a rocket arm, leadership in the face of adversity, and just enough athleticism to keep defenses on their toes. What can’t be taught, however, is his “Mahomes Magic”, the plays that make your jaw drop.
Before he and his wife were friends with Taylor Swift, and before he lifted Super Bowl trophies, Mahomes honed his magic in the small town of Whitehouse, Texas.
Much like his time at Texas Tech, Mahomes’ high school games often turned into old-fashioned Texas shootouts. In the wild west, Mahomes’ arm was quicker than a six-shooter, developed from years of football and baseball under the tutelage of his father, former MLB pitcher Pat Mahomes. His most memorable high school moment? That came in his last high school game for Whitehouse High School in the Texas Conference 4A Division II semifinals.
In one of the most impressive passing performances imaginable, Mahomes threw for an incomprehensible 619 yards and five touchdowns in a 65-60 loss to Mesquite Poteet (Texas). With the back-and-forth scoring of a basketball game, the future superstar brought the Whitehouse Wildcats back from down 18 in the second half. Unfortunately, Mahomes’ last-ever high school pass was the game-losing interception in the fourth quarter. Maybe he is human after all. The folks in the stands and on the field that day knew, however, that the future Chief would be special, and he proved them right, eventually working his way to being one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.
JOE BURROW: Just a Kid From Athens
Before Joe Burrow lit up the Cincinnati skies with deep throws and clutch moments, he was just an “all-American” kid at Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio. A small-town midwestern coach’s kid, Joe exemplified everything right about Friday Night Lights.
As a senior, Burrow won Ohio’s Mr. Football Award and the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award. Joe’s most memorable high school moment came in the 2014 Division III Ohio State Championship against Toledo High School. In an insane barn-burner, Burrow put Athens on his back. He threw for an unbelievable 446 yards and six touchdowns, adding 49 rushing yards on the ground.
If that wasn’t enough, Burrow also played in the secondary and finished with a tackle as a defensive back. Despite the noble effort, Athens lost to Toledo High School 56-52.
Heartbroken in his last ever high school game, Burrow went viral for his emotional postgame press conference, calling the loss the “worst day of my life”. Five years later, Burrow finally got his championship victory, winning the National Championship at LSU. It’s only fitting that he returned home to become one of the best quarterbacks in Cincinnati Bengals history.
JOSH ALLEN: The Super Soldier
In the 2011 Marvel film Captain: America The First Avenger, Steve Rogers is a sickly, scrawny, and nondescript military reject. That is, until he is injected with a serum that turns him into the ultimate “super soldier”. Due to his selflessness and leadership, Steve Rogers utilizes his role as Captain America to save the world from evil. Yeah, it’s a little corny, but sometimes life imitates art. At least that’s the case with NFL quarterback Josh Allen.
The future MVP grew up in the tiny farming community of Firebaugh, California, hundreds of miles away from San Francisco and Los Angeles. Weighing less than 200 lbs and ignored by major college football programs, Allen led Firebaugh High School as the team’s star quarterback, almost completely unknown to the rest of the state.
His senior year he threw for over 3,000 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also rushed for 407 yards and three touchdowns. Allen’s best performance came as a senior in a playoff game against Immanuel (Calif.) where he threw for 442 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-40 comeback victory.
Allen had to attend Reedley, a local community college, to build his profile. From his outstanding play to his relationship with his teammates, Allen got his “super soldier” serum from the man above. Starting at 6’3”, 180 lbs, his senior year of high school, he grew to 6’5”, 210 lbs after just one year of community college.
Today, he’s listed at 6’5 236 lbs–one of the most athletic quarterbacks of his size in NFL history. Allen proved in high school that there’s nothing wrong with “growing where you’re planted”. Success comes from within, not the school, city, or program you attended. It has paid dividends for the NFL’s super soldier.
LAMAR JACKSON: Breaking the Internet Since Day One
Since day one, Lamar Jackson has been determined to be a quarterback. Suffering from success, Jackson’s outstanding speed and athleticism have always fooled scouts and fans into believing he would be better suited as a running back or wide receiver. But the Florida prep star held strong in his belief that he could one day be one of the best quarterbacks in football. His national story begins at Boynton Beach High School (Fla.).
Before he became a two-time MVP, Lamar Jackson went viral for perhaps the world’s smoothest juke. The graceful move spread all over the internet. To this day, you may remember the incredible play without even realizing that it’s Lamar Jackson. Florida is a hotbed of football talent, but Jackson’s viral play didn’t lead to a five-star ranking. A three-star prospect, Jackson attended Louisville on scholarship because coach Bobby Petrino promised Lamar’s mother that he would play quarterback.
Lamar’s best high school performance arguably came from a Halloween matchup in 2014 against future Ravens’ teammate Tyler Huntley. Huntley played quarterback for Hallandale High School (Fla.), securing a 35-22 lead. In a fantastic comeback, Jackson threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, he added an insane 142 yards rushing and two more trips to the endzone. Despite scoring 14 points in the last four minutes, Huntley drove Hallandale down the field for the game-winning field goal. Despite the 38-36 loss, Jackson showcased his throwing and rushing ability that has helped him become one of the greatest dual-threat QBs in NFL history.