photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High senior wide receiver Jaxon Becker celebrates near the end zone after completing a drive against Mill Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Lawrence.

Lawrence offensive coordinator Taylor Stuart joined the LHS coaching staff in 2023 and was unsure of what the receiving corps would look like when a sophomore, Jaxon Becker, lined up as one of the top receivers on varsity during the first summer practices.

“I was thinking to myself, ‘Man, we must be pretty limited at receiver to have a sophomore going in,” Stuart said. “Obviously, from the get-go, seeing Jaxon that first practice I knew he was a different kid. He’s tough, hard-nosed — he’s not going to give up.”

Becker proved to become a reliable and consistent presence on Lawrence’s football team for the next three years, and, six games into his senior season, Becker caught his 100th career pass on Oct. 10 as part of a night in which he finished with 115 yards on five catches.

Becker initially wanted to play safety with the Lions, but with the amount of depth at the position when he joined the team, he switched to full-time receiver. From there, his role with the team took off.

It’s been a lot of football and receptions since that first one his sophomore year, but he remembers it. His first catch came in Week 1 of his sophomore year, a 41-22 win over Olathe South.

“It was a smash concept, and I caught it and tried to get upfield,” Becker said. “I almost fumbled, that’s what I remember.”

Over the years, the Lions have been able to manufacture ways to give Becker the ball and let him use his athleticism to make plays. In 2024, the team ran numerous jet touch passes, giving Becker the chance to run past any crashing defensive ends to score a touchdown. When the Lions call up a screen play, the ball often goes to Becker, who is able to weave through traffic to gain yardage.

But what makes Becker such a reliable weapon for the Lions is his deep ball catching ability. Becker plays above his 6-foot-1 stature on go routes and has developed an ability to high point the ball and come down with a catch at a high rate. Lawrence coach Jason Thoren said those throws that are usually “50-50 balls” are a lot closer to being 80-20 in Becker’s favor.

“In my head, I’m telling myself I’m going to come down with it,” Becker said. “I remember working as a kid with my dad, and he’d always tell me to reach up to the top of the shelf. I’ve been practicing it for years.”

While Becker’s physical ability certainly has played a crucial role in his development at receiver, his knowledge and understanding of the game has played an equally important role in that development.

“Being able to actually read the coverages as a senior and knowing what the defense is trying to do instead of knowing just what my route is has helped me improve my game over the years,” Becker said.

It’s a development that Stuart has seen as well. When the offense comes off the field after a drive, Becker can break down what he’s seen and help Stuart develop a plan of attack during games.

This year, Becker has been the team’s top receiver for an offense that has had young quarterbacks. For Stuart, it makes play calling much easier when he knows he has a trusty receiver to dial up a play to get a quarterback out of a tricky situation.

“It’s huge — you always have consistency out there,” Stuart said. “It’s one of those things where you just say, ‘Hey, Joey (Dooley), always trust this guy. Always give this guy a chance.'”

Becker’s Lawrence career is winding down, with only one regular-season game left before the playoffs begin. While Becker is hungry to keep cementing his legacy at the school with wins and records, he, above all, wants to see the next generation of receivers start to build its own legacy with the Lions. Seeing his fellow Lions get that same rush from scoring a first touchdown is something he’s excited to see his teammates accomplish, and he wants to help them get there.

There are a lot of things that Becker does that makes him an asset to the Lions, but the leadership he shows to the rest of the offense might be his best attribute. For Stuart, coaching a kid like Becker is what the job is all about.

“He’s a kid that not only leads our kids but also our coaches,” Stuart said. “He’s a great example of how to handle adversity — how to handle yourself when things don’t go well. We’re blessed to have a kid like Jaxon on the team.”