Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – In the early stages of his career it was the unique skill set of Drew Larson that attracted attention to the City High quarterback.

It’s hard not to take notice of a quarterback that also starts at defensive back and returns punts.

While it was the position versatility of Larson that stood out early it is his production that has made the City High senior one of the elite quarterbacks in the state.

Larson has thrown for more than 3,100 yards and 35 touchdowns over the past two seasons while maintaining a Friday night workload that few quarterbacks in the state can match.

“I like being unique like that, being able to play both sides of the ball and be a returner and do all those things,” Larson said. “I like being an athlete and also a quarterback.”

Larson was very much an athlete playing quarterback as a sophomore two years ago.

A receiver and a defensive back through junior high and his freshman season, Larson passed for 1,346 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2021 helping City High reach the Class 5A semifinals.

After that initial varsity season Larson has committed himself to not just being an athlete behind center but a quarterback.

“His understanding of the game has really grown,” City High coach Mitch Moore said. “Drew didn’t play quarterback until two years ago and his sophomore year he wasn’t a student of the game, now he’s a student of the game of football. He’ll watch football on his own, he’ll study stuff on his own and that’s what the great ones do.”

That work, both on the mental and physical side of playing quarterback has showed on the field.

Larson ranked in the top seven in Class 5A in passing yards (1,841), passing touchdowns (19), total touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (68) last season despite missing two games with an injury.

“I worked a lot more on throwing and worked with a lot of coaches and I’ve gotten a lot bigger, stronger and faster,” Larson said. “The experience of being in a Friday night game is not something you can really prepare for and having played 20 games that really helps with understanding and seeing how fast the game goes.”

The production from Larson the past two seasons has been as good as any 5A quarterback in the state.

All signs point to this season as the breakthrough for Larson.

“I think leadership is the biggest thing I’ve seen in him,” City High senior receiver Carsen Newton said. “He’s so much more of a leader and then his arm has really improved. He can throw the ball, he’s ridiculous.”

Even with his focus on being a quarterback, Larson has kept the athlete tag.

He ranked sixth on the team in tackles and led the Little Hawks with two interceptions last season and will see plenty of time at safety this fall.

Moore plans to continue to have his senior quarterback involved in the return game as City High attempts to improve on a 6-4 season from last fall that ended with a first-round loss to Johnston in the 5A playoffs.

“He’s an athlete, he’s such a good return guy, and our philosophy as a staff is we aren’t going to treat the game of football any different than basketball or baseball, if you are a player that can play on both sides of the ball, lets do it,” Moore said. “We aren’t going to hold back.”

Larson headlines a group of 16 returning starters for City High that includes five players with starting experience on the offensive line and the Little Hawks receptions leader from last season in Newton.

There are holes to fill at the skill positions but Larson likes the look of the running back and receiver groups.

“We have a lot of talented guys and I think we have a lot of depth too,” Larson said. “We have new running backs, new receivers and I think we have guys there that are going to be really good.”

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