Jason Teater is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Central High School for AZPreps365.com

 

In 2016, Jesse Padilla walked into Shadow Mountain High School to watch his older brother, Mathew, play football. He was just a kid then, but some of his fondest memories were watching his brother under the ligths and dreaming of being on the field one day. 

“Seeing all the people in the stands and the students that know him, that got me more into football as a kid,” Jesse said. 

People say you pick things up from your family, and that's the case for the Central High School senior quarterback, who has been playing football since he was 4 years old. 

“I was always born to it, mainly because of my brother,” Jesse said. “I just used to always think football was the only sport, to be honest.”

Jesse credits Mathew for teaching him the leadership skills on and off the field, acting as a mentor to turn him into the player Bobcat fans see on the field today. 

Mathew played all over the field for Shadow Mountain in 2016, a trait that Jesse picked up from his big brother. 

“Probably why I'm all multi with the positions, because I saw him do it, and I'm not about to have him hold that against me,” Jesse said.

That versatility now defines Jesse's game as he plays wherever the coaches need him, from the Bobcats offense to passing, catching and even running the ball. 

Just like his brother, he stood out to coaches and was talented enough to play 9U football as a 6 year old.

Once in high school, he decided to take his talents to North Canyon High School. However, after a 41-0 loss to Central, he saw he needed to make a change and transferred mid-season for a better opportunity under head coach Chandler Hovick.

“Hovick was a great coach,” Jesse said.  “I have nothing negative to say, just nothing but positives.”

When Hovick moved on from Central, his coaching staff dispersed, and Chris Barrett too over for one season before leaving as well. Finally, for Jesse's senior year, Alex Sanchez  took the helm for the Bobcats.  

“I've had four different new head Jesse throughout my whole high school, which is hard,” Padilla said. 

During Jesse’s time with Hovick, he met close friend and teammate junior linebacker, Dallas Carter, who has been through the same coaching turnover.

“He's inspired me to be more of a leader,” Carter said. “He has definitely done a lot for me.” 

As one of four seniors on the roster, head coach Sanchez leaned on Jesse to guide and set the tone for the young team.

“Jesse stepped up since the summer,” Sanchez said. “He knew that this was a senior year and he had to put the team on his back. A lot of his teammates left with a lot of transition from the coaches and everything, and he knew he stayed in short loyalty and wanted to be a leader for the young guys coming up, instead of foundation for the future.”

Just like his brother, Jesse emerged as a staple on Central's team.

“A lot of people look up to him,” Carter said, “so when they see him being a leader, see him being respectful, doing his thing, not never being late, it just inspires the freshmen and the young guys to do the same.”