Carson Little is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Scottsdale Prep for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As a child, Jackson Larson could climb almost anything and find his way out of places his mother expected him to stay. His crib, the house, and even the gym’s child play area became escape routes, his mother, Noelle Larson, recalled.

Keeping him busy meant finding somewhere to direct that energy. His family tried Tee-ball and parkour. But alongside his need to move was an equally persistent desire to connect with people.

“His nickname has always been the mayor of everywhere,” Noelle said.

That outgoing young man became Scottsdale Prep’s starting quarterback, taking on a position that tested his confidence during his senior season. For Jackson, learning to lead meant accepting his own mistakes while also helping teammates move beyond theirs. With football finished, the relationships that brought him into the sport remain central to how he sees himself. 

Jackson’s interest in football began with his older brother, Tyler. Watching Tyler’s games introduced Jackson to his brother’s teammates and friends, who made him feel included. Earlier experiences with flag football had not sparked much interest; belonging to that community did.

“I think those relationships drove me to play football,” Jackson said 

This season, those relationships helped him accept a different responsibility. Jackson said Scottsdale Prep did not have a quarterback settled before the season, and an anticipated transfer ultimately did not arrive. He volunteered to step into the role.

He trusted the people around him to help, but that support did not eliminate the pressure. Taking snaps meant confronting mistakes in a position where he felt responsible for the direction of the game.

“I think the biggest jump was just learning to be less harsh on myself and be willing to accept that I can’t make every single play,” Jackson said.

Scottsdale Prep athletic director Teray Allen-Lisbon, who has known Jackson since middle school, watched that adjustment unfold. Early in the season, Jackson struggled with reading defenses and moving through his receiver options, Allen-Lisbon said. As the season progressed, he became more comfortable in the pocket and more patient about finding an open receiver.

Allen-Lisbon attributed that development to Jackson’s increasing willingness to work and examine what went wrong.

“His work ethic has definitely gotten a lot better over the years,” Allen-Lisbon said.

For Noelle, that determination has roots in an earlier disappointment. She recalled driving home from an eighth-grade football game in Glendale with Jackson upset about his size and his experience that day.

During the ride, they listened to a story about overcoming doubts as a smaller athlete. Their conversation became a lesson about earning a place through effort, regardless of physical size.

“He works really hard, and he always has because he knows he’s not the biggest,” Noelle said.

Years later, she watched him apply that persistence to encouraging others. After difficult losses this season, Jackson discussed the team’s challenges at home. Noelle said he later gathered teammates after practice to encourage them to keep going.

After the final game, she watched him approach each player, especially younger teammates, and tell them what he saw in them.

“He did step into that leader role,” Noelle said.

Jackson said attending a small school has helped him become more communicative and understanding of his classmates’ lives. The same interest in people extends into activities where he has no helmet or football in his hands. 

He acts in school productions and plans to participate in another play. At home, his mother knows him as an entertainer who makes the family laugh and sometimes sits down to play the piano. 

His remaining senior-year plans include a major thesis paper and baseball beginning in February. A catcher, Jackson brings his conversational nature behind the plate, too, his mother said.

Those interests give him different ways to express the energy his family recognized early. They also give him more opportunities to do what he says matters most: get to know people.

“I just love getting to be part of people’s lives and getting to add meaning and add value to them,” Jackson said.