Paxton Earl sat and watched, then played and stewed last football season at Arcadia. 

Earl, a junior, transferred to Arcadia before last season after spending his freshman year at Brophy.

“I was a little upset at how the football program was run at Brophy,” Earl said. “I decided to go to Arcadia because I lived in the neighborhood and I saw potential upside. I could go and make a difference.” 

However, AIA transfer rules require that first-time transfers have to sit out half of the first season at their new school. This meant Earl had to sit out half of the 2017 season. 

“I was eager to play,” Earl said. “I wanted to make a difference in my team.” 

When Earl finally did make his Titans debut, the team was 0-5. He struggled to find his groove averaging just 3.7 yards per carry as the Titans lost their remaining five games to finish 0-10. 

Earl blames himself for the five losses he played in.

“After we Iost the five games that I started in, I carried that with me the whole off season,” Earl said. “I didn’t really hang out with anyone. I stayed in the gym all year and put all my focus into becoming the best player I could be this season.” 

He said he bought a sled to improve his acceleration and power. He went to every workout Arcadia coach Kerry Taylor held over the summer. He said he also started taking care of himself better recovery-wise with more stretching. 

“I’m way faster, way stronger than I was last season,” Earl said. 

Earl said he improved over the offseason watching tape of NFL running backs and trying to learn from them. 

“I watched a lot of Le’Veon Bell,” Earl said. “I really like how patient he is and how he manipulates himself with linebackers. I love how versatile Alvin Kamara is because I play in the slot and get carries and make catches out of the backfield like him.” 

All of the work in the off season has paid off. Through five games he is averaging a whopping 8.9 yards per carry and has helped lead the Titans to a 5-0 start. 

Taylor said Earl’s improvement has been noticeable.

“He’s always been a smart guy,  but now he’s understanding coverages and how to attack defenses,” Taylor said.

Titans quarterback Kadin Beler said Earl gives the team the edge.

“He (Earl) is the leader of this team,” Beler said. “He brings us together. He brings that extra oomph to the team. He’s a beast out there.” 

Despite his individual success, Earl just wants to win. 

“My individual goals are to rush for as many yards as possible, Earl said. “I don’t have too many individual goals. My goals are more team wise. I want to win as many games as possible, go undefeated and win a state championship.”

Earl wants to play Division I football.

“Playing college football has always been a dream of mine,” Earl said. “That’s definitely a goal that I’ve always thought of.”

That means maintaining good grades. 

“The better grades you have, the more opportunities you have to play football.” Earl said. “Instead of just going to a big school, you could go to an Ivy League.” 

Taylor gushed about Earl. 

“He can do it in all phases of the game,” Taylor said. “Running, catching, blocking, special teams. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team. He’s the type of person you want in your locker room. It’ll take the right coach at that level to give him that opportunity and whatever coach does will be very happy with the player that they’re getting.”  

Earl and the Titans travel to take on their biggest test of the season in Saguaro Friday at 7 p.m.