By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Peyton “Pop” Houston is accustomed to the spotlight, and it showed on national television Wednesday morning.
The Evangel senior quarterback and his father, and quarterback coach, Shaun Houston, were featured guests in a five-minute segment on CBS Mornings led by former NFL player Nate Burleson, along with co-hosts Gayle King and Vladimir Duthiers.
Houston, who is ranked as the nation’s best Class of 2027 pocket passer by ESPN.com recruiting analysts, is one of 11 high school football stars who have signed NIL deals with Nike. Part of that package: personalized game shoes, designed by the player and his mother in collaboration with the shoe giant. They are multi-colored and have his nickname, “Pop,” on the heel of the left shoe and “UNO” for his No. 1 jersey on the right one.
He committed to LSU last fall and has emerged as the Tigers’ prize recruit at that position. Houston has thrown for 80 touchdowns and 8,316 yards, completing 68 percent of 793 throws with just 15 interceptions over 24 games, and rushed for 1,632 yards and another 19 scores, in two seasons after sitting out his freshman year following a transfer from Calvary to Evangel.
Wednesday morning, he displayed the same poise teammates, coaches, opponents and fans have seen in his first two seasons with the Eagles. That is rooted in his faith, his father’s mentorship, guidance from his coaches and confidence developed through an unflinching commitment to solo workouts along with team practices and less formal training with fellow ECA players.
His father’s vision has been borne out, he told Burleson.
“It’s truly a blessing knowing that all these things that my dad said when I was younger would happen are coming to life now. Understanding the work is the reason I’m here, and trusting in God, and the process, and continuing to glorify Him. We have this little saying, ‘job’s not finished,’ so I continue to put the work in until I’m done with the work God wants me to do.”
Playing for his father, who is a pivotal figure on Denny Duron’s Evangel staff, hasn’t been difficult, he told King, despite the potential for family strife.
“I don’t think it’s hard at all. He can be tough at times, but he’s not overwhelmingly tough on me, just enough to get me where I need to be,” said Houston.
Shaun Houston said their approach is to keep football and home life separate as possible.
“It gets tough at times. They always say don’t bring work home with you, but when you’re a (coaching) lifer, and someone is really passionate about the job, it goes home,” he said. “What we try to do as he’s gotten older is create that separation point, so that when we’re at the fieldhouse or the school, I’m coach, and when we step through the door (at home), I’m Dad.
“Peyton is a coach’s son, and he’s been around the game all his life. What may seem like work to a lot of people, is just life to him. It does take work, but if you’re going to be successful in anything, that is required.”
Last Tuesday, at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl High School Media Day, the Eagles star said playing baseball this spring has helped his football skill set. Houston handled third base for the Eagles.
“Playing the infield, where you need quick hands, being able to get the ball out of my hands quick – and the different arm slots you use when playing baseball. You can make any throw on the football field, no matter where you are, how you’re being twisted on,” he said. “Playing baseball definitely helps with that, for sure.”
Reflecting on his progression from his high school football debut against Neville as a sophomore, Houston – a 4.0 student who is clearly more muscular after a summer of 3:30 a.m. workouts with weights – said his greatest growth has been above the neck.
“It is really too much to explain mentally,” he said. “I’ve grown so much physically and picked up a lot of skills that I started off with in my freshman year that’s been multiplied by everything I’ve experienced, everything I prayed for, everything God has blessed me with.”
The Nike NIL deal (terms undisclosed) and Wednesday’s national television appearance are the latest signs of that.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com