Larson focuses on leadership skills, building chemistry going into senior year with Eagles

by Cole Arndorfer, Grain Valley News Intern

     Grain Valley High School’s senior quarterback Caleb Larson hasn’t always been a football player; he actually grew up playing baseball. Larson says he didn’t really start to take an interest in football until fourth grade when some friends convinced him to join their team. From there, his love for football grew and helped form the passion he has for the game today.
     When he first started playing, Caleb wasn’t a quarterback.
     “Originally I wasn’t a quarterback, I was a receiver,” Larson said. “Come sixth grade I wanted to make a switch. I wanted to play quarterback, I wanted to be the leader of the team.”      
     Larson credits his dad with being his biggest influence and supporter throughout his time in football. “My dad has this leadership quality and I want to follow in his footsteps with that,” said Larson.
     Caleb also said his dad has taught him many things in life, in addition to being a leader, such as how to be respectful and how to be successful in life. He has taken these lessons and qualities from his dad and translated them to the field and they have helped him become a better quarterback.
     Outside of summer weights and team practices at the high school, Larson has been putting in extra work in order to prepare for the upcoming season. He says he goes to see a quarterbacks coach once a week to perfect his craft as well as going to the field to get some extra passes in to his receivers.
     He says that getting some extra throws in with his receivers not only helps them get extra work, but it helps them to build chemistry together as a group.
     “Having that chemistry together is so important on the field, I need to trust them, and they need to trust me. We also have a new receiver this year from Blue Springs, so being able to form a bond with him is really important to me.”
     When talking more about his upcoming senior season, Larson has some personal goals for himself. He says he wants to keep being a leader for the team, support everyone by being a good teammate, and show the team that he believes in them no matter what.
     He also says that though there are quite a few seniors on this year’s roster, the team still has a young overall feel so his goal for the team is to make sure everyone feels confident and knows they can succeed.
     When he wants to get his mind off of everything that is going on and take a step back from it all, he likes to go golfing. “I love golfing, it’s one of my hobbies. I go with my dad and grandpa and it gets me away from life for a little bit, have some fun, and relax.”
     After this season and when he graduates, Larson would like to go on to play college football somewhere while studying to become an electrical engineer. So far, he has gotten looks from a variety of schools in the region and he is hoping that he will receive an offer to continue his career and go play for one of them.
     Looking ahead to the season, Caleb says he is excited and confident that the team will perform well and he’s looking forward to the team’s first test just over a month away when the Eagles go to Fort Osage. 

Grain Valley High School’s senior quarterback Caleb Larson is looking forward to the team's first test in just a month when the Eagles head to Fort Osage. Photo credit: Cole Arndorfer