Contrary to popular belief, Jarod Conner is not Julian Conner’s little brother. The two are not even related, but you can understand why some would think they are.
Sure, they share a certain poise in the pocket and a cool demeanor when the lights are brightest. Then again, Julian was a 3-year starter, an all-state performer and arguably, one of the best to ever wear a Tiger uniform.
On the other hand, Jarod, a junior, just made his third start under center for the team. Although the Tigers are 3-0, Hattiesburg head coach Tony Vance wants to pump the brakes a bit.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Vance said. “Overall, I think Jarod has some moments where he plays really well and some where some things are just new to him.”
Jarod, known by his coaches and teammates as ‘Snoop’, is inclined to agree.
“I’d give myself a B. I’m doing alright,” Conner said. “I’m trying to get better and improve on some things.”
“I want to throw the ball better and run the ball harder.”
If Jarod has any edge on Julian, it has to be his running ability. After transferring to Hattiesburg High from Sylva Bay Academy last season, Jarod played a lot of running back for the Tigers, especially down the stretch in the playoffs. Although he’s at quarterback now, his running has not been limited. Through 3 games, the junior has run for well over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns.
“Julian was a better passer without a doubt, but Snoop’s a better runner,” Vance explained. “But both of them have some unique leadership qualities. They have some different leadership styles. They are similar in some ways and different in some ways.”
You can count potential as one of their commonalities.
“Jarod is definitely a young man that’s going to have an opportunity to play at the next level,” Vance concluded. “It remains to see how high of a level, but he’s definitely on most college radars. He just has to maintain that, stay humble, continue to work and improve each day.”
