Recruiting Report: Andrew Larson (2018)

Two years ago the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Bulldogs struggled through a one-win season. This past fall they completely turned the program around, and one year later the Bulldogs won five regular season games. They put together three straight wins – including two in the postseason. Two-way starter Andrew Larson was a big part of the turnaround, but according to Larson, the most significant change came off the field. The players – including Larson – put a premium on not playing for themselves, but playing for each other. "From last season to this season there was a big difference because this year we worked as a unit," Larson said. "We trusted each other. We had been doing competitions building trust with each other. We were counting on each other knowing we would all do our jobs and work well together." Increased trust between the players was a focus of the coaching staff in the off-season. "Our coaches started doing more stuff helping us build trust with one another," Larson said. Whatever the coaches did, the players bought in. Offensively, the Bulldogs scored over thirty points five times. "We ran the ball well," Larson said. "Our running back had over 1000 yards rushing." They were tough on the other side of the ball as well. In eleven games the defense allowed just four teams to crack the twenty point mark; two of those games over twenty were still victories. "On defense, we could rush the passer," Larson explained. "I don't know what the count was, but we had several sacks." Larson – NFN's 250th ranked prospect in the 2018 graduating class – was a big contributor – literally – on both sides of the ball. Like his team, he did it for the team and not himself. "I played well. I wasn't playing for myself; I was playing for (my teammates)." Larson was the nose tackle in the team's base 3-4 defense. "When I need to I can pass rush rather well," Larson told northstarfootballnews, "but I am really good at holding my ground and opening up gaps for my linebackers." As a sophomore Larson played nose tackle and this year he cracked the offensive line starting group. He started at right tackle. At this point in his career, he feels he is a better run blocker than pass blocker. During the winter Larson won twenty matches for the wrestling team - including a regular season win over – at the time – the number one ranked heavyweight in Class A. In the post-season, he nearly advanced to the state tournament – falling one match short. This spring he has been throwing the shot put and the discus. After school Larson is focusing on a whole body approach to his conditioning. "I am going to be eating healthy so that I can stay fast," the 6'3" 290-pound junior said. "I am going to be going to the weight room and speed training at least five times a week. I am also going to be working on my friend's farm." Larson has been invited to junior days at Bethel, Minnesota State-Mankato, and Bemidji State, but because of his athletic schedule, he has only been able to get to Moorhead's junior day. He has also been in contact with Drake and UW-River Falls. Larson is a big man with many useful traits he uses on the football field. The trait more significant than anything he does physically might be his willingness to put the team before himself. It is a quality that will help the Bulldogs make a second straight run toward the state tournament and with a successful senior season will also open more doors for him at the college level.