In Arizona high school football circles you may not be familiar with the name Devin Larsen but sooner than later, you probably will. After throwing for over 2500 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, the Queen Creek sophomore is ready to emerge among a talented group of quarterbacks in the east Valley.
After entering last spring in a quarterback battle, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Larsen is ready step to the forefront on one of the more consistently successful teams in Arizona.
“Going into the season I know I have to step up and be even more of a leader than I was last year,” Larsen said to Sports360AZ.com after a recent practice. “My teammates support me and have my back.”
On the field, the redhead is a quick study, having mastered the Bulldogs’ complex offense which can be up to 15 words long per play. Queen Creek offensive players don’t wear wristbands so the onus falls on Larsen to get QC into the right calls and formations at the line of scrimmage.
“He’s more comfortable with what we do,” head coach Travis Schureman explained to Sports360AZ.com. “Our concepts and what we expect of him. The things we want to do on Friday nights, he has a great concept of that.”
Besides learning and mastering the offense last season as an underclassman, he also took care of the ball, throwing just six interceptions in 265 attempts. Part of Larsen’s “feel for the game” could come from the NFL quarterback he tries to emulate.
“Tom Brady,” he said without hesitation. “Just because of the competitiveness he has. He puts so much time into the game. He’s always practicing to make his craft better. I really look up to him.”
While Larsen’s love for the game is evident, he understands there are far more important things than making the right reads and throwing touchdowns.
“He knows when it’s time for business, that’s the way he is in the classroom,” Schureman said referencing his starting signal-callers 3.2 grade-point-average. “He’s a respectful kid, always willing to jump in and participate in any fundraisers we might have or if we go out and do community service, he’s one of the first guys to sign up.”
Although Larsen has yet to receive any college offers, there is interest from several schools. He attended a BYU camp and is hoping two more seasons of growth and improvement in the weight room and on the field will enable him to land a Division-I scholarship.
Schureman believes he’s a D-I talent.
After last season, who are we to argue.
