Patterson High football player Lawson gives Humboldt State another explosive option

Patterson High football player Michael Lawson announced his college choice Wednesday night during halftime of the Tigers’ 77-19 boys basketball victory over Pacheco.

Lawson, who also plays guard on the basketball team, was joined at midcourt by his hoops teammates. After a few words from football coach Rob Cozart and Lawson, the 5-10, 170-pounder pulled a camouflaged Humboldt State visor out of a gift bag, revealing his choice to the crowd.

“Humboldt was my only offer,” said Lawson, who anticipates playing as a slot receiver for the Lumberjacks. “On the official visit, they treated my family with a lot of respect and were very hospitable toward us. The atmosphere out there is very nice.”

Lawson rushed for 830 yards and 16 touchdowns on 71 carries this season and caught 23 passes for 593 yards and nine TDs. He averaged 15.1 yards every time he touched the ball from scrimmage and hit paydirt every 3.8 touches. He also was dangerous in the kick-return game.

“He’s an all-around athlete,” said Cozart, who led the Tigers to 11 straight wins to start the season before falling to unbeaten Placer in the playoffs. “He could play any position on the field. If he needed to play outside linebacker for us or inside backer for us, or safety or corner, receiver ... we had him get reps at quarterback, running back. He could do pretty much anything on the field at that skill position.”

Lawson joins a growing list of Stanislaus District players at Humboldt State. Oakdale’s Louis Marsella signed to play in Arcata next season, joining 2015 graduates Jabar Byrd (Merced) and Aundre Sherman (Buhach Colony). Damarrio Hammonds, a 2015 Patterson grad who played last season at Dixie State, is considering a transfer to Humboldt State, according to multiple sources.

The most notable Stanislaus District alum playing for the Lumberjacks is running back Ja’Quan Gardner, a 2014 graduate of Central Valley High School.

Gardner, the Stanislaus District’s all-time leading rusher (6,014) led the NCAA with 2,266 rushing yards in 2015 and was the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award, the D-II equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Gardner and the Lumberjacks went 10-2 last fall, falling in the second round of the playoffs to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State (15-0).

“I think the talent level has always been here, but maybe not the exposure,” said Cozart. “But now you see a lot more schools in our area playing out of the area, and now players are getting that exposure. And now I think the pipeline has opened up because people are realizing what’s been out here in the valley for so long.”

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 7:59 AM with the headline "Patterson High football player Lawson gives Humboldt State another explosive option."