As a sophomore last season, Jackson Alcorn proved that he can hang in the Fox Valley Conference at quarterback as Burlington Central narrowly missed the playoffs.
Over the summer, however, Alcorn took his game on the road.
For example, in June, the rising junior went to Naples for the Top Gun Showcase. It was there in Florida that he knew his game translated not just locally but on a national level.
“When you go to Florida, those camps I went to this summer, those are the best in your class in the whole country,” Alcorn said. “It really does open up your eyes.
“It pushes you to the next level — it really does. If you can compete there, it puts you on the map even more.”
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Alcorn arrived for preseason camp having filled out for the Rockets, who are No. 10 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News rankings.
At the urging of his coaches, he ran track in the spring and saw his speed improve.
“The first is the eye test,” Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi said. “He looks like a completely different kid from last year. He ran track, saw a huge drop in his sprint numbers, and you can see it on the field.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things right now — the visual test. He’s passing that for sure. Then just his confidence. There isn’t a throw he doesn’t believe he can’t make. There isn’t a situation he can’t get himself out of.”
Those are all reasons that Iossi’s inbox sees increasingly more traffic from college coaches. And on top of that?
“I think that number is just going to continue to increase every day,” Iossi said.
Alcorn said he sees differences in his own game as he moves on from his sophomore year to being an upperclassmen.
“I feel so much more confident now,” Alcorn said. “I feel loose, not really stressed about anything. I’m way more polished this year than last year. I feel like I’ve reflected on last season and on how I can be a leader, all of that stuff.
“I’m more of a quiet, laid-back guy. I like leading by example. This year, I have to be more vocal.”
Senior receiver Michael Person, his top returning target, has been along for the ride to witness Alcorn’s maturation. He feels like a breakout is about to happen.
“All the 7-on-7 practices, he’s just putting the ball in the right spot, reading defenses,” Person said. “He just trusts all of us that we can make a play.”
Burlington Central goes from being one of the area’s youngest teams to one of the more veteran groups for this season. The Rockets, who return 18 starters, just barely missed out on their first postseason appearance since 2014.
The nucleus all going through the same growing pains last season isn’t lost on Person.
“It’s nice to have this chemistry now with the experience we gained from last year being so close to the playoffs,” Person said. “Now, this is probably our year to make that step.
“That’s the goal. That’s what everyone has been working toward. Everyone just wants to win that fifth game and make it into the playoffs.”
It will be Alcorn setting the tone to take that next step. The disappointment of last fall stuck with him during the offseason.
“We were all very devastated,” Alcorn said. “I know I kept thinking about it even after the game for a very long time. I’m more motivated than ever.
“My goal last year was to make the playoffs. The goal this year is to still make the playoffs. We can compete. I feel like everyone saw that.”
Quick Facts
Team: Burlington Central.
2022 record: 4-5.
Offensive leaders: Jackson Alcorn, junior, quarterback; MJ Hansen, senior, offensive lineman; Joey Kowall, senior, running back; Michael Person, senior, wide receiver.
Defensive leaders: Zach Adamo, senior, outside linebacker; Ryder Bergemann, senior, defensive back; Porter Mihelich, senior, defensive lineman; Mason Rosborough, senior, outside linebacker.
X-factor: Brady Gilroy, senior, wide receiver/defensive back.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.