Jordan Wright left no wiggle room in evaluating his performance this past Thursday, in Springstead’s 24-13 preseason football loss to Hudson.
The senior quarterback was 4-of-14 passing for 31 yards with two interceptions, though he did run for a touchdown. Later that night he took to Twitter to vent his frustration.
“I have to play better no questions asked,” Wright tweeted out.
His perspective hadn’t changed a couple days later, the exhibition leaving a sour taste heading into the start of the regular season this Friday.
“No game is lost by one person, but I put the majority of that loss on me,” Wright said. “Being the leader and the quote-unquote star of the team, I need to perform better. I need to pass, I need to run, everything I need to do better. There’s no shying away from it. I played terrible.
“Everyone has a bad day. I never had a day like that before. I’m glad it was in preseason and it doesn’t count. … It’s just a knock in the head to know I’m not the best around. I need a good work ethic and I need to push myself so I can push my team.”
The next day, Wright went right back to work, throwing 100 balls in practice, attempting to regain his typical form. He knows his role on the Eagles’ squad, and it’s not just about flashy statistics.
Yes, he spent the summer training, seven days a week. He worked on his conditioning, his technique, his strength. But what was his biggest focus throughout the offseason?
“Becoming a better leader,” Wright said. “That’s the thing I really worked on. Being more vocal. Being a leader on and off the field.”
For Wright, that goes beyond setting an example with his play, but in the hallways of the school and out in the community, making sure his teammates realize they’re representing Springstead football in all aspects.
Of course, the Eagles need him to lead in terms of production, as well. After winning the starting job during his sophomore season, as a junior he completed 55-of-112 passes for 863 yards, with eight touchdowns against two interceptions. On the ground, he ran for 116 yards and four scores.
However, Springstead struggled to a 1-5 start, though the offense turned the corner over the last three games, averaging 47 points in three straight victories.
“I learned bigtime last year that you can’t have a whole bunch of individuals to play a team sport,” Wright said. “You can’t just expect to be handed a win. You’ve got to put in a lot of effort into what you do. You can’t expect to be Springstead and deserve a win. You’ve got to work for a win.”
Wright knows something about winning for the Eagles, as he watched it firsthand while his brother Daniel was the star running back from 2012-14. During that time, Springstead went a combined 26-8, collecting two district titles and reaching the Elite Eight in 2013.
“I love my brother. It was something where I knew once he left, it was my time. Being average wasn’t good enough anymore,” Jordan Wright said. “I’m grateful I got to play one year with him (2014). It was tough being the little one, being the little Wright, always being told I need to be as good as him. It’s pretty awesome knowing we’re leaving a good legacy here.”
“They’re pretty different,” Springstead head coach Mike Garofano said. “Dan was really physical. I’m not saying Jordan isn’t also, but Dan is the more physical player. Jordan is more the type to lower his shoulder when he has to, but he’s more the type who is going to run around you.
“Their personalities are pretty different. Their skillsets are pretty different. They’re both phenomenal athletes but different players.”
Wright and Garofano will work more closely together this season, as Garofano has taken over play-calling duties on that side of the ball. Wright said he has been given more freedom, forcing him to more closely read the defenses and make checks at the line.
It’s a change he embraces, and his coach recognizes the need to put the Eagles’ fate in Wright’s hands.
“He’s the leader of the team. He knows the offense better than anyone,” Garofano said. “I’ve asked him to do a lot with the offense. We’ve seen that he brings the ability to break a long run and be very efficient in the passing game. He’s a third-year starter and he’s like a triple threat out there.
“He has grown a lot. He’s matured a lot physically, mentally. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his strength, his speed, his agility, and it’s shown. He’s a home run hitter on the ground and a home run hitter with his arms. He’s going to be tough to defend.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.