Morgan Park’s Marcus Thaxton knows his way around the football field.
The senior quarterback’s feel for the game and analysis also goes beyond what plays out there.
“I love cars,” he said. “If you point to a car, I can tell you immediately what make or model it is.
“Playing quarterback, you have to notice everything. I’ve watched a lot of film and played a lot of video games, and all of that has boosted my knowledge of football.”
That same intuitive and observational skill is a quarterback’s saving grace — the ability to identify coverages or anticipate how the defense is going to react to the flow of the game.
Thaxton has demonstrated his acuity and versatility since throwing three touchdown passes in a 30-2 victory over Richards two years ago in his varsity debut for the Mustangs, who slot in at No. 8 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings.
He has posted a 20-4 career record in leading Morgan Park to consecutive playoff appearances.
Last season as a junior, Thaxton completed 151 of 224 passes for 2,391 yards and 31 TDs. In completing 67 percent of his passes, he posted a 128.4 quarterback rating.
The three-year regular is one of 17 returning starters for Morgan Park (10-2), which reached the state quarterfinals last year in Class 5A.
“We have a lot of playmakers,” said Thaxton, who has scholarship offers from Western Illinois, New Mexico State and Kent State. “And my job is to get them the ball.”
Morgan Park’s Marcus Thaxton (4) throws for a 2-point conversion against Fenwick during a Class 5A first-round playoff game in Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
As the Mustangs prepare for their Aug. 31 season opener at Marist, Thaxton is ready to showcase his deft combination of experience, skill and athletic prowess.
“Since my sophomore year, my knowledge for the game has really improved, from my reaction time to my defensive recognition,” he said. “The whole game has just slowed down, and that has made it much easier for me to diagnose defenses and be able to make plays.”
Senior linebacker Demetris Rule has a unique advantage to measure Thaxton’s growth.
After beginning his career at Morgan Park as a freshman, Rule played in Gary, Indiana as a sophomore and missed the quarterback’s emergence.
Last year, Rule returned to Morgan Park.
“I came back and Marcus was leading,” Rule said. “He knows how to get everybody motivated.
“If his receivers are offsides, he is going to get them right. He’s very vocal. He’s got a great arm, good accuracy and really good movement with his feet.”
Morgan Park’s Marcus Thaxton (4) throws on the run after being chased out of the pocket by Richards’ Shaun Reynolds Jr. (34) during a nonconference game in Oak Lawn on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
As a former standout receiver for the Mustangs who played at Illinois, Morgan Park coach Chris James understands all about the subtleties and intangibles for being a quarterback.
He said Thaxton has learned how to link his physical attributes to the demands of the position.
“He has really grown and evolved since his sophomore year,” James said. “He’s more vocal. His ability to process information and teach the other players has been huge to him.
“Since he started with me, I put a lot of importance on the need to get bigger and stronger. He has probably put on 20 or 25 pounds since his sophomore year.”
Morgan Park’s Marcus Thaxton (4) hands off the ball to Terrance Gurley (9) against Richards during a nonconference game in Oak Lawn on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Quarterback is as much a state of mind as a position, and Thaxton gravitated toward the role at age 6 while playing with the Calumet City Thunderbolts.
He knows what he projects is as important as how he plays.
“You just have to stay poised and stay focused through the whole game no matter what happens,” Thaxton said. “If I throw an interception or we get scored on, I have to keep the same composure.
“I know everybody is looking up to me and looking for me to see what we have to do next.”
Team: Morgan Park.
2023 record: 10-2.
Offensive leaders: Marcus Enoch, senior, lineman; Terrance Gurley, senior, running back; Pierre Jackson, senior, wide receiver; Nasir Rankin, junior, wide receiver; Marcus Thaxton, senior, quarterback.
Defensive leaders: Jovan Clark, senior, linebacker; Ahmad Grayer, senior, defensive back; Deandre Smith, junior, defensive end; Jacob Ware, senior, linebacker; Jahmare Washington, senior, outside linebacker/safety.
X-factor: Demetris Rule, senior, linebacker.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
