BALTIMORE -- Lamar Jackson was trapped in a pocket that was collapsing, and he had to jump a defender to reach the outside. Jackson then ran 40 yards downfield and scored a touchdown.
As Jackson's pass flew in the air, a woman shouted "Oh my God!"
This was not a highlight of Jackson's MVP season in Baltimore with the Ravens in 2019 or a clip from one his amazing comebacks. Jackson, 11 years old, was playing in The Ultimate Bowl 2008 in youth league championship games. The play can still be seen in grainy footage on YouTube.
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This type of reaction has been Jackson's soundtrack to his football career for a long time. On Thursday, the Ravens will play the Miami Dolphins at 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network/Fox. Jackson will be back in the same area that he won everyone's attention with his ability to throw the ball further than anyone and run around tacklers.
Coaches, players, and fans who saw him in those early years of Florida will always remember seeing a special athlete.
Van Warren, who was one of Jackson's most important coaches since childhood, said that you can see tape of him doing certain things as a child and then everybody would say, 'He won’t be able do that at the next level.' He wowed everyone when he reached [Boynton Beach] high school. He won the Heisman Trophy after he said, "He did it in highschool but he won’t be able it in college."
"I don't find it surprising that he is on TV."
Jackson won the MVP award his first season playing football at age 7 and the award for each subsequent youth football team. Jackson would score between five and six touchdowns per match from the ages of 8-13. The box scores would be printed in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Jackson won 22 out of 24 Boynton Beach games in two years and scored 80 touchdowns. Jackson was a prolific passer with more than 5,000 yards and countless sidesteps, breaks of tackles, and stiff-arms.
About 30 people were there to watch Jackson's high school football games. They will be making the short drive south to see Thursday's game at Miami Hard Rock Stadium. Jackson's mother Felicia Jones and her brother Jamar are expected to visit their tailgate and tell stories about Jackson's life before he became a star in the NCAA and NFL.
Lyndon Clemons (an assistant principal in Palm Beach County) stated that "we don't see him like Lamar Jackson football superstar." He's Lamar. He's a normal kid."
Lamar Jackson played two years for the Boynton Beach Tigers and won 22 of his 24 games. He also scored 80 touchdowns. He's a talented player who has been admired by those who saw him in high school and now with the Ravens. South Florida Sun Sentinel
"Let's get to work"
Warren was Jackson's very first quarterback coach. After hearing about Jackson's success in street football, Jackson met Warren on the football field.
Warren challenges Jackson to be a quarterback. You must throw the ball 20 yards.
Warren stated, "He threw him a dime." Warren said, "He threw me a dime."
Jackson and Warren met every Sunday at a local park for quarterback mechanics. They focused on everything, from footwork to correct holding the ball, over many years. They would often spend almost an hour on three-step drops.
Jackson, a teenager, was offered a Sunday afternoon ticket to the Dolphins game. He asked his mother if she would allow him to attend. The answer was no. He had made a commitment to train on Sundays and it was too late.
Warren stated, "He's one of the most hardworking kids I've ever seen," He was the one who completed all the training.
Jackson's ingeniousness was evident even during youth football. Jackson was also known for being a strong player with a great arm and a physical game. He once threw a football 100 yards. South Florida Sun Sentinel
"He would make you look silly in your shoes."
Jackson and Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills runningback, grew up just 10 minutes apart. They only met in youth football at age 9, in an 80-pound league.
Singletary beat Jackson early and ran him over for touchdown. Jackson, who was playing cornerback at the time, later admitted that he was unhappy about the missed tackle.
Jackson responded to the play with a touchdown run.
Singletary stated that many people don't realize that Lamar is a quarterback and they may not believe he's physically fit. He did have a few runs when he fell on a linebacker. It was serious. He is capable of doing it all. He was certain to retaliate."
Jackson won the game with a touchdown run in the final minutes of the game.
Singletary stated that "Nothing has changed." He would pretend to be you. He may have leapt over you. He did whatever it took to win.
"The entire crowd said, "Woooo!"
Jackson's coach at 11 years old, Ed Jones "Bubba", took the same pleasure watching him play defense as he did in his job as a quarterback. Jackson ran so hard at safety that his helmet flew off as he lined up.
Jones stated, "The entire crowd went: "Woooo!"
Jackson's Northwest Broward Raiders fell to the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes by 12-0. However, the teams met again in the Super Bowl. The Raiders had to overcome the South Florida Youth Football League's former champions, who had won more than 40 games straight.
Jackson made a mistake near the goal line during the first drive, but bounced back and threw two touchdowns in a 14-6 victory.
Jones stated, "If you had the film of this game, you'd be like: He looks the same now as he did then."
The players were able to choose between a Super Bowl ring and a Disney World trip as their reward for being champions. They chose the ring.
"I couldn't believe that it happened!"
Bill Tome was Boynton Beach High's resource officer when a student approached him to tell him that the team had a great transfer quarterback.
Tome raced to the football field in his golf cart and spotted a 16-year old Jackson throwing the ball.
Jackson was told by Tome that Jackson is "pretty good" before giving a playful snark. "But you are not that good."
Jackson asked Tome why. Tome replied, "Because I didn't play with my Bulldogs."
Tome was the Boynton Beach Bulldogs' director, one of the most prestigious youth football programs in the region.
Jackson told Tome, "You're correct sir." "I beat your Bulldogs at the playoffs when i was eleven."
Tome called the Bulldogs' head coach to confirm the information. He informed Tome that Jackson had run in two touchdowns for the Raiders to win 12-6 over them in the 2008 playoffs.
"He did his usual ZIGZAG all over the place. Tome stated, "You know, Lamar Jackson-style." "I didn’t know him, but then I saw him five years later, and it was unbelievable to me."
"Get your popcorn ready"
Clemons was at the time an assistant principal at Boynton Beach High. He was in the stadium's press box following a flag football match when Jackson shouted, "Watch this!"
Jackson threw it 100 yards, from one end to the other. The high-arcing toss has been viewed nearly 165,000 times since 2015. It also features a woman saying "Oh my gods, Lamar" and many skeptics.
Jackson cherishes his youth and posts videos to social media. Many of his childhood friends will be there to support him on Thursday. Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Clemons stated that people see the video many times and think it's fake. "I was like, listen, at the school that I went to, that wasn't made up. The videos were not resuscitated. That was the truth.
Another viral video was from a May 2014 spring game against Village Academy. Jackson, who was running down the right sideline, pulled up abruptly at the 1-yard line and let the defender pass him. Then he walked into the endzone and raised his arms. This play's highlights packages have been viewed more than 4 million times.
Clemons said, "When you look at him and others, you never really know what you're getting next or how he will do something amazing." Clemons will put on a great show so make sure to grab your popcorn.
"Stay tuned"
Jackson is still very much connected to his roots, despite being one of the most prominent athletes in the sport. Jackson still owns his Super Bowl championship ring. He posts photos of his youth football team, including a circle of himself with a laughing emoticon underneath.
Jackson also recalls many youth football highlights that were never uploaded to YouTube. Jackson responded to a question about the incident when one of his teammates almost lost his pants while running for a touchdown.
Jackson took Jackson step-by-step through the steps in detail and recalled a game he played when he was twelve years old. His team had lost with just one minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Jackson recited the playcall "Coach Peanut" [Warren] had told him during the timeout and imitated the exact instructions. Jackson then reenacted his play by rolling to his right and motioning for Jet to throw the ball to the opposing side.
Jet had to pull his pants up as he ran into goal.
Jackson stated, "Those days are very important to me." Jackson said, "I always think back to things like that." "You can only be a child once."
This is what makes Jackson's South Florida homecoming so special. Fans will be able to see Jackson in person for the second time during his NFL career at a stadium located 25 miles from the place where those legends began.
Warren stated, "The world is stunned by what they are seeing now." "But I insist that you stay tuned."
