Tolleson freshman QB Kristian Escobedo ready to make Arizona high school football splash

They call him K1. They'll take the field with him any time, any place, and do anything to catch the ball from this fearless Tolleson quarterback.

Kristian Escobedo is entering his freshman football season, looking closer to 13 than his 15 years of age, which he turned in April.

During the pandemic, for two years, he was home-schooled, reclassified to the 2027 high school class, and already has a jump start on his high school course load, scoring a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in his first high school semester in the spring at Tolleson. He attends summer school now.

And, his football acumen advanced, he's ready to lead Tolleson's football team on Friday nights, despite his diminutive 5-foot-7, 145-pound frame.

Since high school teams began playing in 7-on-7 competitions this summer, coach Rich Wellbrock has appointed Escobedo his QB1.

"Him and his family has been planning for this opporunity since he was very young," Wellbrock said. "And his quarterback training, plus extensive time with Tucson Turf has prepared him for the big stage."

To get ready to take his first high school varsity snap in August, Escobedo not only plays for Tucson Turf, one of the best 7-on-7 club programs in the nation, but he trains under local QB guru Mike Giovando, played in the Scottsdale Argos youth organization and has personal trainers from Elite U and Sweet Feet Training.

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"We did reclassify him to 2027 but then we had the idea, 'Why can't Kristian start high school early like kids do in college sports who leave school early?' " said JonJon Escobedo, a Tolleson High graduate and Kristian's dad. "This only worked because Kristian was home-schooled and never took breaks and finished all his courses, allowing him to enroll after Christmas break.

"So his high school clock started January 2023 without starting his football clock but he will graduate early come his senior year in December. He's been able to weight train and jump right into the playbook in January."

K1 says he's ready to lead.

"Having a chance to bond with the guys since I got there, I think it helped a lot," Kristian said. "I've been hanging out with everybody. They've been cool with me."

He's formed a special bond already with sophomore wide receiver Rico Blassingame (6-3, 180, Arizona State offer) and incoming tight end/defensive end Judah Lancaster (6-4, 195), who both already have Division I college attention.

"That's my dog," said Blassingame, who moved from Washington state last year. "I played with him in 7s. The first day I got to Arizona, we've been working out together. I love seeing him elevate."

Kristian is the youngest of four, so he's had a competitive edge growing up, trying to keep up with two older brothers. He started football at 6 but not always at quarterback. His parents put him in track at 7 to stay active. He saw a javelin and threw it.

"The track coaches quickly asked him to do it again, because it's not easy throwing a javelin," JonJon said. "One thing led to another, and the next thing we knew he placed fourth in the nation in the javelin."

If he can throw a javelin, he had to be able to throw a football, right?

Escobedo began training with Giovando when he was 8. Giovando has worked with many kids from that age through high school and beyond, including former Phoenix Pinnacle star Spencer Rattler, who ended up being the nation's top-ranked high school quarterback his senior year. He now stars at South Carolina.

More: The Arizona Republic's Top 10 quarterbacks for the 2023 high school football season

But, as Escobedo got closer to starting high school, he had coaches telling him he was too short and too slow. It never stopped him. All that did was motivate him more to prove people wrong.

"As parents, we always knew he would grow," JonJon said. "Just wasn't God's time for him to be tall yet. Our oldest son is 6-4. I'm 6-3. It's in his family. Everyone is tall. But we always told him to be patient and don't let anyone outwork you."

While being home-schooled, he could get his QB training in. But which high school? The family thought of him going to a school in the East Valley.

But JoJon was a 1999 Tolleson graduate, him and his wife's other three kids graduated from Tolleson. And JonJon said Wellbrock really believed in his son. Kristian wants to put Tolleson on the football map, do it for his home town.

"Kristian always told us, 'I know I can win at Tolleson, just give me a chance,' " JonJon said.

He's getting faster than most freshmen quarterbacks in Arizona.

"I'm ready," Kristian said.

So are his teammates.

"Kristian is a great quarterback and leader and when the time comes is a straight floor general," Lancaster said. "He makes a huge impact in the game when he’s on the field. He stands down from any challenge and is an overall dog when it comes to the game.

"It’s an amazing experience playing along side him and star wide receiver Rico Blassingame. And it's a real family feel when we all come together. We have some great coaches that make the game both competitive and fun but when it’s time to work, it's time to work."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tolleson freshman QB ready to make Arizona high school football splash