Source: Rob Ayre, York
Name: Jarrett Carson
University: York
Hometown: Brossard, Que.
High school / Cegep: Chambly Academy / John Abbott
College
Position: Receiver
Academic program: Psychology
Year of eligibility: 2
Height: 5-9
Weight: 182
For Jarrett Carson, football is a family affair. The son of David Carson, the quarterbacks coach at CEGEP Vieux Montreal, football has been written into his DNA from a young age.
“I started playing football when I was five years old,” he says of his earliest memories of the sport. “I was on what they call a taxi squad, where you practice with guys that are older, but I was too young to play right away. I really enjoyed hitting, and that separated the sport from other non-contact sports I had tried.”
Having a father so involved in football helped him develop a passion for the game, and also helped him advance in the sport as he got older.
“My dad is in his 20th year as a coach and he has been behind me from the beginning. He didn’t pressure me into playing football, but he pushed me in that direction and I’ve always liked watching since I was young. I’ve learned a lot from him, and he spent a lot of time telling me how to do the right thing on the field. He’s a good motivator in that sense because he’s been through it all.”
According to Carson, it wasn’t until he was 14 that he decided for certain the game of football would be his sport.
“At 14 I almost didn’t play and then the first game came along and I really missed it, so I came back for the second game and I realized that it’s what I wanted to play from then on.”
It seems fitting that with his father coaching the game, Carson can remember reading playbooks over breakfast as a kid, an advantage that helped him get ahead compared to some of his teammates. He started as a quarterback under the tutelage of his father and only recently switched to receiver, a position he has been at for just three years. He’s used what he learned from his dad and taken on the new position with determination and drive.
“At first it was a challenge,” he said. “I didn’t respect receivers enough as a quarterback until I played the position and wow, it was tough. But as I got through it, it’s actually benefited me playing quarterback because I get to see both sides, the defending reads are a lot easier for me.”
After receiving MVP honors at John Abbott College in Montreal, Carson was ready to take on the challenge of CIS football. He had a lot of different schools look at him for their programs, but his recruiting trip to York sealed his decision to head east to Toronto for his varsity career.
“The coaching staff here really went above and beyond to show they wanted me to play here,” said Carson. “They had high expectations of me and told me they knew I could play. I’ve really enjoy the coaches and playing for York.”
Standing 5-foot-9 and weighing in at 182 pounds, Carson is a small player in relation to other guys on the field. But that hasn’t deterred him from taking on a prominent role within the Lions offence. After developing in his rookie season last year, he has positioned himself as a key player going into 2014.
He had a strong end to his first year with the Lions, finishing with five receptions for 107 yards in the season’s final two games. He appeared in six games overall, and felt by the end of the season that he had started to adapt to the high level of play required in the CIS.
“At first it was tough. It’s a big step because the playbook is a lot bigger and plays were a lot different than in high school. Half way through the year I started catching on and my last three games I really stepped up. It carried me into this year.”
Carson is back and ready to have an even more successful season. After a tremendous showing at the team’s spring training camp, he’s ready to take a stronger place on the offence and become a leader on the team. The coaches expect him to step into a leadership role, a position he is ready and willing to take on.
“I’ve been doing it so far, I enjoy it. It motivates me and I like to motivate others and get them going,” he said. “Pregame speeches and that kind of thing, that’s football to me.”
The coaches agree and are looking to utilize the unique speed that Carson brings to the table. They have put him in different positions on the field to try and take advantage of the speed he brings to the position.
Football will no doubt be a lifelong passion for Carson, stretching beyond his time with the York Lions.
“I would love to play pro, that’s obviously a goal as a CIS player,” he said. “As for this season, I want to stack up as many yards as possible to help the team on offence. And down the road, when I’m done playing, I would love to be a coach as well. I just want to carry on that football tradition.”
The Lions will be looking to Carson for his leadership and skills both on and off the field. After a strong finish to last year and pushing himself to his limits in the off-season, he’s ready to step up and make a difference for the team and his coaches.