Aiden McCown aims to follow dad, brother to DI football
RUSK, Texas (BVM) 鈥� Aiden McCown had a fantastic season as quarterback for the Rusk High School Eagles this past year. Despite it being his first varsity campaign under center, McCown showed skills and intangibles that scouts fall in love with. This shouldn鈥檛 be a surprise as Aiden has some quality mentors who have helped him craft his game 鈥� his father, 17-year NFL veteran quarterback Josh, and his brother, Owen, who played quarterback last season for the University of Colorado.
While these relationships come with their own amount of pressure, Aiden embraced the challenge and used the wisdom gained from his dad and brother to help him in his own journey.
鈥淸Owen] said, 鈥楪o be a gunslinger, it doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 good or bad just play your game,鈥欌�� Aiden said. 鈥淥bviously, the goal is to win doesn鈥檛 matter how it gets done, just win so that was the biggest thing, be comfortable and have fun.鈥�
Though only his first high school season at quarterback, Aiden proved he was more than a good fit for the role as he racked up 2,312 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes and just five interceptions while also rushing for 780 yards on 94 carries with 11 rushing touchdowns.
鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a great coaching staff and obviously my dad was coaching me so that was a fun experience. Playing with some of the guys that I鈥檝e been around is the best time.鈥�
Though he was still a bit raw at the position for a high school senior, Aiden benefitted from having an experienced QB coach, his dad. With his dad鈥檚 help and leadership, Aiden went from being a utility player all over the field as a junior to a bonafide stud under center.
鈥淎ny time I need a question answered it鈥檚 at home,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淗e knows all my answers so that鈥檚 the biggest thing that I took advantage of this season. It allowed me to play faster and he鈥檚 a big help.鈥澛�
For Aiden, it was a strong first impression, but he isn鈥檛 satisfied. Though his numbers were good, Aiden鈥檚 didn鈥檛 reach the same highs as Owens鈥檚 a season ago when he passed for 3,362 yards, 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions while rushing for 371 yards and 11 more scores, something he had hoped to accomplish during the year.
鈥淵eah [he鈥檚 let me know] a little bit,鈥� Aiden said with a laugh. 鈥淚 told him that because the year before he didn鈥檛 have any defensive stats that I have that on him. That鈥檚 a little argument and it鈥檚 fun. We get on each other a lot but it鈥檚 all love at the end of the day.鈥�
However, Aiden played quarterback a little differently than his brother as shown in his ground game. He may have been about 1,000 yards off of Owen in terms of passing, but he rushed 409 more yards than his brother in two fewer games and he averaged 309.2 total yards per game, coming very close to Owen鈥檚 314.4 average as a senior.
鈥淚 just like being myself,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淲hatever suits me I just kind of get comfortable and just play.鈥�
Given his strong play at quarterback, it comes as no surprise that Aiden has attracted the attention of scouts. To date, Aiden has received four Division I football offers from Charlotte, Incarnate Word, Lamar and UTSA.
鈥淭he very first one going into the offseason from UTSA going into my junior year and I鈥檝e got a couple this offseason and during the season senior year,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淚鈥檓 an open book and I鈥檓 not closed off to anything.鈥�
After a great talk with , I鈥檓 honored to receive an offer from UNC Charlotte!
— Aiden McCown (@AidenMcCown14)
While Aiden won鈥檛 have any chance to further prove his quarterback play on the field, he does have time for more programs to watch his film to earn more offers. Once he feels all of his options have come in, he will make his decision.
鈥淚鈥檓 still sharing my film and I鈥檓 being patient with my recruiting,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淚t would mean the world [to play DI]. I want to just keep showcasing my abilities and who I am as a player, not just the last name but who I am as a person.鈥�
Though Owen recently announced his decision to transfer from Colorado, Aiden doesn鈥檛 see that impacting his own choice.
鈥淏efore he entered the transfer portal I was just being myself and just being patient so it doesn鈥檛 really add anything to it,鈥� Aiden said.
Thank you Buff Nation!
— Owen McCown (@OwenMcCown7)
With a year of solid play on film and help from his family, Aiden has proved he can certainly play football at the Division I level. Now, he will look to find a program that fits him best and try to create his own legacy using the lessons learned from his dad and older brother.
鈥淥n the field you鈥檙e getting a leader, a hard worker, a playmaker,鈥� Aiden said. 鈥淥ff the field it鈥檚 a leader in the classroom, somebody who would help kids in the class or with a ride somewhere, things like that. I鈥檓 going to be all hands on deck. If somebody needs help, regardless of who you are, I will be there to help.鈥�
