BRIGHTON — Lawrence Wells is aware that Brighton has a strong legacy of producing quarterbacks, even if he isn’t well-versed on all the names or details.
He’s had the chance to work with Colin McKernan, a 2023 Brighton graduate who now plays for Hillsdale College.
And he’s heard some guy named “Drew” was pretty good back in the day.
Wells can be excused if he can’t recite all the names and accomplishments, because he’s only been in Brighton since February, having transferred from Ann Arbor Huron. Monday was his first official practice as a Bulldog.
“I know Colin; he’s been helping out,” Wells said. “We also had, who? Drew, right?”
That would be Drew Henson, a Brighton legend who went on to play for the University of Michigan and for two seasons in the National Football League.
Following Henson were the likes of Cullen Finnerty, who led Grand Valley State to three NCAA Division II national championships; T.J. VanDoren, who threw for a school-record 2,510 yards during a run to the 2005 state semifinals; Will Jontz, who played for Indiana; Colby Newburg, the trigger man during Brighton’s run to the 2019 state championship game; and current college quarterbacks McKernan and Grant Hetherton.
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And now Wells hopes to become part of that lineage, embracing the high expectations that come with being the quarterback in Brighton.
“Pressure, for sure, but exciting. We’re held here,” Wells said, holding his hand high. I like it, though. Pressure; I like that on me.”
While it remains to be seen how Wells performs on the field for the Bulldogs, he’s already navigated the tricky part.
A starter on a playoff-qualifying team at Huron, he walked into Brighton High School as not only a stranger, but as a threat to snatch the starting quarterback job from someone who has been in the school district all along.
That could breed resentment and hostility, but Wells said he immediately felt at home in Brighton.
“Honestly, coming in I was scared,” he said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know anyone here.’ Then everyone here on our team was cool, nice to me, welcoming, excellent. They just all took me in as a friend, as a teammate, as a brother, so it was great.”
Wells ingratiated himself to his new teammates by showing up to every offseason activity.
“Him showing up to everything was huge,” senior receiver Sebastian Boyea said. “All those lifts, all that 7-on-7 stuff. Everybody knows him. I’m grateful to call him my brother at this point.”
“He really came in a worked early,” senior running back Nate Stark said. “Usually when a new guy comes in, there’s not really a mesh, but there was a mesh here. He fits. He’s been doing very well for us.”
Wells said he met at least five times a week with Brighton receivers over the offseason. He also ran track with some of his football teammates in the spring, posting a personal-best time of 11.21 seconds in the 100-meter dash and helping Brighton win a regional championship.
Although he’s familiar with his teammates, he said Brighton’s first practice felt different than what he experienced at Huron.
“I would say it’s a lot more up pace,” he said. “It’s all just, ‘Move now, move now, quickly, quickly.’ It’s different, for sure, but it’s nice.”
Huron averaged 28.1 points per game with Wells at quarterback last season, going 5-4 before losing 48-7 to eventual state Division 1 runner-up Belleville in the first round of the playoffs.
Wells can play freely for Brighton without the baggage of showcasing himself for college scouts, having made a verbal commitment to Central Michigan University over the summer.
He looks forward to orchestrating an offense that typically showcases the running ability of its quarterbacks.
“I’m excited, because we have lots of runs designed,” he said. “Hopefully, they all work out for me, too.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: CMU commit Lawrence Wells hopes to follow great quarterback lineage at Brighton
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