From star basketball player to Star football player, Rod Lucas is proving he can do it all.

After staring in EYBL for team Thad this summer, Lucas has shined under the Friday night lights this season. Lucas is leading his team in passing yards, rushing yards, and total touchdowns. What makes this performance even more impressive? It’s his very first season — not just as a quarterback, but as a high school football player.

It’s a year of firsts across the program. Head Coach Jeb Jones is in his first season running a high school team, a challenge that includes turning a basketball center into a quarterback while competing in one of Tennessee’s toughest regions.

“I’m a competitive person. I like to challenge myself like taking this program over as the head coach,” Jones said. “So I look at it as a challenge because of the record of the last couple of years. I’ve had people tell me ‘oh you can’t win at Arlington’ and that’s kind of a challenge for myself. I want to put myself in those situations. You know having a guy come in that has no football experience, and getting him ready to play, that’s what I pride myself on as a coach.”

Lucas credits Jones and the offseason grind with helping him translate court vision to the gridiron.

“I wasn’t even thinking about football at first,” Lucas said. “Coach Jeb talked to me about how football would help my basketball, and Coach Evans said college coaches would love me because of my size. At first it was hard to learn the plays, but Coach Jones makes the game easier.”

Lucas loves competing, both in basketball and football, but he says his biggest motivation comes from his family at home.

“My mom does a lot for me,” Lucas said. “When I get older I want to give everything back to her.”

Jones say that family shows up daily

“What most people don’t see is he’s up at every single middle school practice because his cousin is on the team,” Jones said. “He helps out, he’s visible, and it goes back to that family aspect. Kids who have that kind of support system, it’s awesome to see.”

By the numbers: Rod Lucas (season to date)

• 18 total TDs (team high)
• 553 passing yards (team leader)
• 346 rushing yards (team leader)