Lawson starts over again: Former Casa star now at New Mexico

The learning process has begun all over again for one of the best high school football players ever to come out of the Redwood Empire.|

The learning process has begun all over again for one of the best high school football players ever to come out of the Redwood Empire.

“I’m learning a new system new schemes - there is just a lot of learning to do,” JaJuan Lawson said last week after just three fall practice sessions with his new team, the University of New Mexico’s Lobos.

The Casa Grande High School graduate has already had a month of workouts just preparing for the official start of fall practice and has already seen enough to notice the difference between high school football, even the quality high school football played by Casa Grande, and the college game.

“Everything is up tempo,” he said. “Everything is done at a faster pace. It makes you work harder.”

Lawson has an extra learning curve since he plays quarterback. At Casa Grande he learned not only his own position, but also the responsibilities of every other position on the field. He brings the same attention to detail and work ethic to New Mexico.

Lawson is one of seven quarterbacks on the New Mexico practice roster. They include two lettermen, three red shirts and two freshmen - Lawson and Patrick Reed from Silsbee High School in Texas.

Likely starter again this season is last year’s starting quarterback Cole Gautsche, with another junior, Quinton McCowen, also bringing experience to the position after red shirting last season.

Lawson said he had an idea of what college football would be like before he took the step himself. “I’ve had cousins and friends who have gone through college football,” he explained. “They told me what to expect.”

But this time it is personal.

“As a freshman, you have to be a little nervous,” he said. “It is like starting high school all over again.”

One thing he has already learned: “You can’t be afraid to ask for help,” he said. “There are a lot of veterans and I ask the older guys how to do things.”

While he is just starting his college athletic career, Lawson has already begun his academic career. He has already taken two classes.

“It is a nice way to jump-start my academics,” he said.

While he is excited about college and his opportunities, Lawson is sorry he wasn’t able to play in the Kiwanis All-Star game alongside his friends from Casa Grande and with and against many of the players he knew from high school.

“I wish I had had that last opportunity (to play high school football), but I know a lot of the other guys wish they were where I am,” he said.

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