Signature Day

The video appears on my iPhone, courtesy of Cameron Hurts, also known as the “Rowdy Raider,” who is the consummate blogger of all things Jamestown High School.

It’s mid-November, the venue is the JHS auditorium and the class is public speaking. On this particular day, the high school students are being joined by the Jamestown Community College cast of Les Miserables.

From his seat, Hurst hits record on his phone and capturers a 10-second video clip of a classmate, standing center stage, microphone in his hand and a song on his heart. With no hesitation and in a remarkably strong, baritone voice, the tall teenager belts out the lyrics – a capella, I might add – to “Stars,’ one of 20 songs in the musical production.

The video, unfortunately, ends abruptly, long before the soloist finishes the song.

I wish I could hear more.

I slip my phone back into my pocket and I say aloud to nobody in particular:

“Is there ANYTHING that Stephen Carlson can’t do?”

Carlson is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound athlete, who turned in one of the finest seasons in the Red Raiders’ storied history last fall. Offensively, he caught 53 passes for 924 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, he accumulated 136 tackles, 3 sacks, intercepted 4 passes and defended 24 more. In the Red Raiders’ win in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship game at the carrier Dome, he caught five passes for 90 yards and made 18 tackles, including 2 for a loss and defended 3 passes.

Other honors on his 2014 resume include 2014 first-team all-state wide receiver for the second straight year; the Connolly Cup recipient, which recognizes the out-standing player in Western New York; All-Football Weekly co-Player of the year; All-Football Weekly first-team wide receiver; All-WNY first-team wide receiver; Class AA South Defensive Player of the Year; Class AA South first-team linebacker; and Class AA state semifinal Offensive Player of the Game.

But that might not even be Carlson’s most impressive accomplishment. That he saved for the season-ending WNY High School Sports football banquet in Mid-December when he was the recipient of the John Urschel Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an honor given to one WNY player.

Add it all together, and it’s understandable why Princeton University – one of the world’s finest institutions of higher learning – came calling. Carlson visited the campus last month and he announced his intention to attend there, beginning in the fall, at a press opportunity at JHS on Wednesday afternoon.

I’m not sure who is more fortunate, Carlson or the university.

Not quite a year ago, Carlson first began fielding inquiries from schools who had become aware of his gridiron prowess. Ultimately, though, it was the mix of academics and football that grabbed his attention right away. He also credited Jamestown resident and Princeton alumnus Fred Larson for his support during the recruiting process.

“This is the best set-up for me, going to a school with such high academics and then also just the football aspects as well,” he said.

Jamestown football coach Tom Langworthy concurred.

“They’re getting a great kid, a well-rounded young man, a polite, respectful kind of person who is very talented in all walks of life,” Lanfworthy said. “The Ivy League is getting an Ivy League type of person.”

Ranked sixth in his class, Carlson plane to major in bioengineering and is hopeful he’ll be used as a wide receiver once practice begins in late summer.

“Right now they’re going to try me (there) to start off, which is good,” Carlson said. “I think I see myself more of a wide receiver in my career … but anywhere on the field I’d be happy with.”

Happy was the operative word as he posed for a photograph with his mother Sue; Langworthy; JHS athletic director Ben Drake; and JHS principal Dr, Michael McElrath at McElrath Gymnasium.

As they looked at the camera, Langworthy may have had the biggest smile, knowing that one of his talented seniors on the state championship football team continued to be a trailblazer for future Red Raiders.

“When you think about a Model player for your program,” Langworthy said, “Stephen is that person.”

“He’s like Jamestown’s kid. Everywhere you go people want to talk about him, people want to know about him and people are proud of him, and that’s awesome.

The first time Carlson stepped on the Princeton campus it was at night, so it wasn’t until the next morning that he got to get the full visual picture of what his surrounding the next four years will be like.

“I was amazed.” He said.

So, too, is just about everyone who comes in contact with him, whether it be on the field, in the classroom, in the community or at his church. That’s why the song he sang in front of his peers in that public speaking class last fall was so appropriate.

The lyrics to one verse read as follows:

He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
Those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward.