Saar Zutshi, a junior linebacker at Arizona College Prep, finished his second year of high school football, but football is nothing new to his family. Zutshi has had integrity and discipline integrated not only into his football but in the classroom as well.

Saar's older brother, Shay, played football all four years at Hamilton High School. Saar grew up in an environment with a role model in his older brother Shay.

"My older son has been very disciplined in working with coaches and trainers," Saar's father Ajoy Zutshi said. "I think that was some sort of guidance that he continued to prove to his younger brother.

"I can assure you, you will never have heard any of my sons’ coaches that they have ever talked back to anybody, never. I think that influence does go for his younger brother (Saar) as well."

Need a transition here.

"We needed someone on this new program to project that," coach Myron Blueford said, "So, him having respect for his coaches, he sets a standard for the rest of the guys."

Even though Shay played at Hamilton High School, Saar wanted something different. When Saar found out that ACP was getting a football program in his sophomore year, he decided to stay with ACP.

"I knew I would have to sit out a year," Saar said. "Overall it was going to be worth it in the end."

Since ACP did not have a football program, Zutshi spent that off-year lifting weights, working out and studying the game.

Zutshi said one of the biggest reasons why he stayed at ACP is because of the smaller class size when compared to Hamilton.

"I think it's great," Zutshi said. "Before we even started football we were friends just for being in school."

Zutshi said having such a small class size and environment made it easier to recruit other kids to join the football team since they were already friends.

"I don't know if there is a team in the state that is tighter than us," Zutshi said.

Zutshi talked about how Blueford has made a big emphasis on the team being a family. So, one of the anchors of that family is Zutshi being a captain.

"It's a really great honor." Zutshi said. "It's pretty humbling and great to know that the coaches and other players believe in me."

Zutshi is one of the few players on the Knights to have football experience before high school. So, Zutshi being so disciplined and humble has helped him be a leader, especially since the team is so close already.

"He has had plenty of player only meetings that he has called himself," Blueford said. "He is the overall leader that you would want, especially at such a young program."

Zutshi plays inside and outside linebacker with some time at strong safety.

"He really reminds me of (Houston Texans safety) Tyrann Mathieu," Blueford said.

"Undersized, when you look at him,” Blueford said. “You can think he's not that much of a player, but he is sneaky fast, always in the right spot, understands the game well and makes big hits."

Zutshi is out for the season after a severe knee injury against Chino Valley High School on Sept. 14. Zutshi suffered a grade one lateral collateral ligament sprain, lateral meniscus tear, and a grade three anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Zutshi is working with coach Harris the Knights’ defensive coordinator in the box to help with defensive play calls.

"Being up in the box gives me a new perspective on how coaches see the game," Zutshi said.

Zutshi plans on pursuing a business degree but is unsure of the emphasis right now. Zutshi has made two unofficial visits to the University of Chicago, Lake Forest College and has a planned visit to Washington University in St. Louis, which is where his brother Shay plays.