When MacArthur football coach Brett Manning first met Jordan Rollison, he wasn’t sure what to think of the football hopeful.
Rollison, now a senior, didn’t talk much, and he didn’t respond to the coaches in ways other players might. It was perplexing situation for Manning and the coaching staff.
Were they dealing with a defiant teenager, or was Rollison just misunderstood?
Luckily, Rollison didn’t make them wait long for the answer to that question.
“He’s a really quiet kid,” Manning said. “He’s really reserved, so much, in fact, that if you didn’t know him, you could mistake that for kind of an attitude. Until we really got to know him, we thought he wasn’t very into it and he didn’t have a very good attitude. That’s really not the case, he’s just really quiet. He’s a hard worker and has done a really good job in the last year of seeing an opportunity to have a role. He’s worked really hard to be a guy who’s on the field.”
Rollison acknowledges his personality is more reserved than his peers, but there is no alternative goal to his private demeanor. That’s just who he is, thanks in part to the expedited maturism he underwent as a result of not having his father around when growing up.
“I like to just keep to myself and stay focused,” Rollison said. “Not having a father figure to push me through hard times was tough. It’s made me less selfish, I guess you could say, and independent.”
Rollison didn’t play much of a role for Mac last season, for he was dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries that kept him from the field. This year, however, is Rollison’s time to show what he can do with the ball in his hands.
Rollison said he relishes the opportunity to play the game with his fellow Highlanders.
“The best part is getting to play with my brothers and friends and just going out there and putting it all on the line,” Rollison said.
Through the Highlanders’ first two games, Rollison has rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. He is the team’s third-leading rusher behind Racer Felter (182 yards, 5 TD) and DShaun Davis (114 yards, 2 TD).
However, Rollison has his sights set for even greater feats as the season progresses.
When he hears his number (34) called and he know he’s getting the ball, there is only one thing running through his mind.
“I want to score,” Rollison said. “Get the ball high and tight and score. My goal is to get 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns a game.”
When Rollison graduates high school, he plans to either join the Air Force or attend college, pursuing a career in real estate.
“My aunt is in (real estate), so I know how it is and how much money she’s making,” Rollison said. “I don’t know the exact number, but I know it’s a lot of money.”
Fun Facts
Hobbies: Chilling with family and playing basketball
Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch (original)
Favorite TV show: “Family Guy”
Favorite sport/team: NFL football, Dallas Cowboys
“Madden” rating: 80