CMU commit Lawrence Wells hopes to follow in lineage of great quarterbacks at Brighton

BRIGHTON — Lawrence Wells is aware that Brighton has a strong legacy in quarterback development, even if he doesn’t know all the names or details.

He had the chance to work with Colin McKernan, a 2023 Brighton graduate who now plays for Hillsdale College.

And he heard that a guy named “Drew” was really good back then.

Wells could be forgiven if he couldn’t rattle off all the names and accomplishments, because he’s only been at 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,” Wells said. “We’ve also had, who? Drew, right?”

That would be Drew Henson, a Brighton legend who played for the University of Michigan and for two seasons in the National Football League.

After Henson came names like Cullen Finnerty, who led Grand Valley State to three NCAA Division II national championships; TJ 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 rusher 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 be part of that lineage, embracing the high expectations that come with the quarterback role at Brighton.

“Pressure, for sure, but exciting. We’re stuck here,” Wells said, raising his hand. “But I like it. Pressure; I like that about me.”

It’s still unclear how Wells will fare on the field for the Bulldogs, but he’s already been through the tough part.

A starter on a playoff-bound Huron team, he arrived at Brighton High School not just as an outsider, but as a threat to steal the starting quarterback spot from someone who had been in the school district all along.

This could have led to resentment and hostility, but Wells said he immediately felt at home in Brighton.

“Honestly, when I first came in I was scared,” he said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know anybody here.’ So everyone here on our team has been so nice, so nice to me, so welcoming, so great. They’ve just accepted me as a friend, as a teammate, as a brother, so it’s been great.”

Wells endeared himself to his new teammates by attending all preseason activities.

“Him showing up for 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 and 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 fit in. He’s been really good for us.”

Wells said he met at least five times a week with Brighton’s receivers during the offseason. He also ran track with some of his football teammates in the spring, posting a personal-record time of 11.21 seconds in the 100-meter dash and helping Brighton win a regional championship.

Although he knows his teammates well, he said Brighton’s first practice was different from what he experienced at Huron.

“I would say it’s a lot more fast-paced,” he said. “It’s all just, ‘Move now, move now, fast, fast.’ It’s different, for sure, but it’s cool.”

Huron averaged 28.1 points per game with Wells at quarterback last season, going 5-4 before losing 48-7 to eventual Division 1 state runner-up Belleville in the first round of the playoffs.

Wells is free to play for Brighton without the baggage of showing off to college scouts, having made a verbal commitment to Central Michigan University over the summer.

He’s eager to orchestrate an offense that typically showcases the running ability of its quarterbacks.

“I’m excited because we have a lot of races planned,” he said. “I hope they all work out for me as well.”

Contact Bill Khan at [email protected]. Follow him on X @BillKhan

This article originally appeared on the Livingston Daily: Rookie Lawrence Wells hopes to emulate Brighton quarterback