Recruiting Rewind: Cards Add Playmaker in Lamar Jackson
February 12, 2015 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Under University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino, the Cardinals are always on the look out for play makers, and the Cardinals found one in quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Playing scholastically at Boynton Beach High School, Jackson was a highly rated prospect by all the major recruiting outlets. A 4-star prospect in the state of Florida and rated the nation's No. 8 dual-threat quarterback, Jackson was named to the Class 6A Florida All-State first team as a utility player.
"One thing that impressed me with Lamar was his ability to throw the ball," Petrino said. "Obviously what jumps out at you initially is how well he runs, how fast he is and his ability to make people miss but what I liked is we don't have to coach a lot with his upper body on his release. He holds the ball the way we like, he separates his hands the way we like it and has great arm strength and is very accurate, especially the deep ball."
In leading his team to a 9-2 record and a regional appearance, Jackson capped off his standout high school football career by winning Palm Beach County's top honor after being named the Lou Groza Award High School Player of the Year after finished the 2014 season with 1,293 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, and 1,039 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.
A Sun Sentinel's preseason Super 11 selection, Jackson rushed for 237 yards on 14 carries as part of a team high 606 rushing yards to lead Boynton Beach to a 64-29 victory over Lake Worth during his senior campaign.
Following the season, Jackson played for the South squad in the 60th Annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South All-Star Classic in Orlando.
A highly recruiting prospect, Jackson chose the Cardinals over Florida State, Auburn, South Carolina, Ohio State, Nebraska, West Virginia, Georgia and UCF.
