It’s a family tradition
Emotion connects Apopka’s Darlington, his quarterback son
Jackson Darlington was all smiles last week after throwing for three touchdowns against Dr. Phillips in front of his older brother Zack, a former Nebraska football player and 2014 Apopka gradate.
“I think it was the first game of mine he ever got to watch,” Jackson said. “I grew up my whole life watching him, and he set my dream to play at Apopka after watching him win state [in 2012 as a starting quarterback], so it meant a lot to me.”
Jackson, the third Darlington to play for their dad, Rick, at Apopka, has noticeably evolved as a passer and blocker through the early part of his junior season.
He leads the Blue Darters (3-1), ranked No. 4 in the Sentinel Super 16, into tonight’s non-district game at No. 16 Boone (3-1) at 7 p.m.
“In my freshman year I couldn’t throw a five-yard hitch, but last year I got a little bit better at throwing and then this summer I really worked on it,” Jackson said. “The throwing has been huge for me, but then I bulked up a little while focusing on my size, and I’m slowly developing into the player I want to be. I’ve still got a long ways to go, but I feel like I’ve improved a lot from my sophomore to junior year and hopefully it won’t stop.”
Coach Darlington has been impressed with Jackson’s development, echoing some of the same thoughts on a player who has completed 18 of 31 passes for 354 yards and five scores while serving as a lead blocker on nearly 20 plays per game in a run-heavy offense.
“He’s just older; he’s bigger, stronger, smarter,” Rick said. “He’s a very smart quarterback who can tell everyone what to do, and he throws the ball with a great touch. He leads people well and puts it right on the money. He doesn’t throw a lot of bad balls.”
Older brothers Zack and Ty, a 2012 Apopka grad who played at Oklahoma, paved the way for Jackson when it came to understanding the dynamic of playing for dad as a QB and center, respectively, for one of the premier programs in Florida.
Rick Darlington, not shy when it comes to expressing affection for his kids, can’t help but laugh at one particular similarity between him and Jackson.
“He’s just intense like me, so sometimes I’ve got to tell him to chill out and I’ve got to be the rational one because he gets so emotional about things,” Rick said.
“He definitely cares and he’s a great teammate.”
The balance between tough love and emotional support between father and son — between player and coach — has been an important part of the growing process for Jackson as he tackles the added pressure of being in his position.
“It’s hard at times because he cares,” Jackson said of his dad.
“He sets a really high standard for me, and I think that’s what makes me a better player. Physically I might not be the best, but because of the standard he sets for me I have to rise to that, and I feel like he’s given me chances that have helped me become a great player, and without him I don’t think I’d be the same.”