Jake Nawrot: From JV Quarterback to Kentucky Commit | John Hersey HS

A year ago, Jake Nawrot wasn't sure he had a future as a college athlete. The John Hersey High School sophomore in Arlington, Illinois was still weighing football against basketball, uncertain which sport would define his path. Then came his junior season.

Nawrot took over as Hersey's starting quarterback and put together one of the more efficient statistical seasons in the Chicago area, completing 71 percent of his passes for 3,078 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions. The performance was enough to vault him from unranked to the fifth-best quarterback in his class nationally and into the top 70 overall prospects heading into 2026.

The rise wasn't entirely a surprise to those who had been watching. Nawrot had already drawn an offer from Toledo based solely on junior varsity film—a rare distinction that signaled his ceiling was well above the JV level. He credits his coaching staff for introducing him to NFL-level concepts that accelerated his development and helped him grow into what he describes as a poised, team-first leader.

Football wasn't his only stage. On the basketball court, Nawrot averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds per game last season, contributing to a Hersey sectional championship. He calls himself a "glue guy" on the hardwood—a role that kept him competitive and conditioned year-round.

With his high school career winding down, Nawrot is headed to the University of Kentucky, a program he believes is building toward something the rest of the country hasn't fully recognized yet. He's eager to be part of it—and just as eager to keep being the same grounded kid who started this journey on the JV squad.