MP grad ‘Doing what I love’ after scary hit nearly ends career

Jake Luton doesn’t know if he’s going to win back the starting quarterback position at Oregon State University.

But in some ways that doesn’t really matter to Luton. Given what he’s coming back from, Luton is just happy to be back on the field competing for a job.

The Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate is back at 100 percent after being on the receiving end of a frightening hit last year, a hit that left Luton motionless on the turf for an extended period of time and brought his first season as the Beavers’ starting quarterback to a premature end.

It’s now 11 months later and the 2018 college football season is less than two weeks away, and Luton is one of several quarterbacks vying to be Oregon State’s No. 1 signal-caller. But whichever direction the battle goes Luton, now a senior, is just grateful to be fully recovered from a scary incident that left him with a spinal fracture.

“I’m just being appreciative and realizing how lucky I am to be playing the sport at the level I’m playing it,” Luton said. “I think a lot of guys coming into their senior season kind of have that feeling, but that situation made me realize how lucky I am. It’s the small things, like working out with the team and practicing with the team. It’s a tough grind during fall camp, but this has taught me to appreciate these times and make the most of it.”

The 2017 season was supposed to be one of triumphant perseverance for Luton. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Luton is a physical specimen with a big arm who led Marysville Pilchuck to the state playoffs in 2013 and 2014. Yet Luton took a roundabout path to Oregon State, one that detoured through Idaho and Ventura Community College in California.

Luton arrived on campus last year and immediately won the starting job. In his first four starts he was 83-for-135 for 853 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions.

But in the fourth quarter of that fourth start, on Sept. 16 at Washington State, Luton’s football career was put in jeopardy. Luton scrambled, and as he neared the first-down line Cougars cornerback Jalen Thompson hit Luton high with his shoulder, knocking Luton cold.

“I dropped back and I was flushed out of the pocket, knew I was close to a first down, and I tried to make a play for the team to get a first down and keep the drive going,” Luton recalled. “I don’t remember a whole lot after that. I remember the first guy coming up and trying to break his tackle, but that’s the last thing I remember.”

Luton remained motionless. His father Judd, an Everett firefighter who was in the stands, was summoned down to the field to help attend to Luton. After about 15 minutes Luton was immobilized and carted off the field, giving the crowd a gentle fist pump to indicate he could move.

Luton was later diagnosed with a thoracic spine fracture — the thoracic vertebrae are located in the middle of the back and supported by the rib cage. The injury ended up not requiring surgery.

“At first I didn’t have any movement in my hands and feet, so I was a little nervous at first,” Luton said. “Once all that came back and I knew I had movement, I wasn’t sure if I was going to play football again, but I knew I’d be able to walk and hold my kids someday and live out a life. If it meant not playing football again, I was in acceptance of that. But as soon as I met the doctors and they told me I’d make a full recovery, there was no hesitation about working to get back as fast as I could.”

Luton spent more than a month just resting and recovering, then required more time to pass concussion tests. Before the season ended he was able to attend practices in street clothes and toss the ball around a little. He was healthy enough to take part in spring camp, though he said he wasn’t quite back to 100 percent at that point.

But now he’s fully healthy and hoping to convince the coaches he deserves the starting job back.

“I feel like I’m playing well,” Luton said. “It’s just awesome to get back out here and get to camp. I’m ready for another season after last year. I feel blessed just to be out here with the guys, competing and doing what I love.”

Luton is engaged in what is essentially a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job with sophomores Conor Blount and Jack Colletto, neither of whom has started a game for the Beavers. All three have had their moments during camp.

Oregon State’s new head coach, Jonathan Smith, has yet to name a starter, and Luton said he has not been told when a decision will be made. As for his chances, Luton’s not to dwelling on the subject.

“I’m trying not to think about it,” Luton said. “These days are long days and you can’t get too focused on that, you’ll drive yourself crazy if that’s what you’re thinking about. I’ll do whatever I can to get the guys ready for the first game. If I’m the one taking the first snap, great. If not, I’ll do everything I can to help our team win.”

And after enduring what he did last year Luton is happy to contribute, no matter what way that may be.