Grayslake Central senior quarterback Braden Carlson knows the old adage about getting knocked down.
He has suffered two major knee injuries during his high school football career.
But Carlson keeps getting back up.
“Yeah, it stinks to have those things happen, but it makes you thankful for the lessons learned, and it taught me to be grateful for what I have,” he said. “I’m happy where I’m at now and blessed to be in this position.”
That position has Carlson poised to play an instrumental role for the Rams (4-5), who hope to take a step forward in coach Brent Pearlman’s second season. To do that, they’ll rely heavily on Carlson.
“He’s emerged on this team in a way that I see few kids emerge like,” Pearlman said. “At one point, he was just another guy on the team. But he’s now clearly the guy that everyone will follow, not just from a skills standpoint, but as a leader.”
Carlson played well when he had the chance last season, completing 55 of 129 passes for 749 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions. He also rushed for 349 yards and a touchdown.
His personal highlight came in his first varsity start. Carlson threw three touchdown passes to his younger brother, Bryce, during the first half of the Rams’ 34-7 Northern Lake County Conference win against Grayslake North.
“I think that was the best day of my parents’ lives,” Carlson said.
It was quite a start for Carlson, considering he had been the backup behind starter Cole Gillette. But Gillette suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3, opening the door for Carlson.
“He always prepared like he was the starter, and that made the transition pretty simple,” Pearlman said.
Carlson’s numbers covered the six games he started, but he didn’t finish the season finale against Lakes. He suffered a torn ACL in his right knee shortly after halftime. He had the same injury in his other knee, as well as MCL and meniscus tears, when he was a freshman.
“Knowing that I had gone through that injury before helped, but it still wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t easy,” Carlson said. “But having it be only one ligament helped. Maybe it was meant to happen.”
Carlson missed basketball season and didn’t get a full season pitching for the Rams’ baseball team. But he got more work this summer with the Rams Baseball Club, and he’s ready to go as football season gets underway. Grayslake Central opens with a home game against Carmel on Friday.
“Last year, I was just fighting to get on the field, and I didn’t know entirely that the coaches trusted me,” Carlson said. “This year, I know the coaches trust me, and it’s my mentality to go out there and win some games.”
Carlson is more equipped for that in part because he trains with Throw it Deep, a skills development program for quarterbacks and receivers. There’s rarely a week when he doesn’t have at least one workout with the group, even though he plays three sports.
“I started there at the end of my sophomore year, and to be honest, when I started, I was absolutely terrible,” Carlson said. “The drills involve much more than just throwing a ball. There’s a big emphasis on footwork and a lot of instruction on mechanics. It’s been life-changing.”
Carlson has become effective both passing and running.
“He’s more of a drop-back quarterback, but he throws well on the run, and he had some pretty big rushing games,” Pearlman said.
Carlson has impressed his younger brother.
“He’s always been a role model for me, and I feel as a whole team, we know he’s ready,” Bryce Carlson said. “He’s a fighter who always finds a way to pull through. To see him fight through what he’s been through has been very inspiring.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
