HUNTER KARLSON
Totino-Grace • football
Coming into the season, Karlson, a junior running back who combines power and speed with a no-nonsense approach to the position, was determined to show how much better he had become.
He was a backup as a sophomore and had marginal success, but he knew the experience he gained was going to pay off this year.
"I tried to make everything a big play," he said of his first year on varsity. "Now, I've learned to rely on my blocks more, be patient and try to find the holes. Not every play can be a big play."
Karlson's less-is-more approach has paid off handsomely. After rushing for 273 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-27 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall — his third four-touchdown game of the season — Karlson emerged as the leading rusher in the metro. He ran for 1,190 yards in just six games with a per-game average of 198.3 yards.
"A lot of [credit] goes to my blockers," Karlson said. "We all really came together this year."
Earning the unofficial title of leading rusher in the metro fulfills a familial goal.
"It means a lot to me," he said. "My dad was a great athlete, my mom a great athlete. Being able to follow them means everything to me. It makes me so happy."
