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During the 2024 high school football season, Jacob JT Torres solidified himself as one of the most promising sophomore quarterbacks in Dallas-Fort Worth.
He earned District 7-5A Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading Burleson Centennial to the playoffs.
Shortly after the season ended, tragedy struck.
In a terrifying moment that the Torres family said caused intense stress, a lightning bolt hit their house.
Their residence became uninhabitable, and they were simply happy to be alive, Jacobs father, Antonio, said.
They found temporary housing close to North Crowley High School with assistance from their insurance.
It was a good fit, as Jacob spent his freshman year at North Crowley and grew up within the community.
He enrolled in January, rejoining many of his childhood friends.
But in a decision the Torres family said was shocking, the 3-6A District Executive Committee ruled it was a transfer for athletic purposes.
The family appealed, and the UIL State Executive Committee upheld the ruling with a unanimous vote.
The SEC made the decision largely due to a soiled relationship between Antonio Torres and former Centennial coach Kyle Geller, who did not sign off on Jacobs prior athletic participation form (PAPF).
Geller said Antonio was looking at local high schools for playing opportunities.
The family disagreed.
But just like that, Jacobs junior year of eligibility at North Crowley was gone.
My reaction was just frustration and disappointment because everything I worked for during the summer just felt like it was taken away from me, Jacob said.
After the lightning strike, Antonio Torres said it was like they were kicked while they were down.
We just focused on JT, and the priority was his mental, just making sure he stayed focused, Antonio said.
We always say, Keep your head down and just let your actions speak louder than your words.
Torres story is an example of the often confusing transfer process in UIL Texas high school sports, where many athletes are cleared, and a select few are ruled ineligible.
Torres, a talented college football recruit with room to grow, missed out on some valuable exposure.
But sitting out led him on a challenging journey that saw him endure hardships on and off the field and further develop his mental toughness and resiliency.
Battling through adversity Jacob couldve left North Crowley to play at a private school in the Fort Worth area or moved to another state, but he chose to stay with the Panthers and play on the JV squad.
Not playing [varsity] football was really hard, Jacob said.
And thats because football is really everything I knew for a long time.
It was my life.
I really focused on training and tried to get my mind off of everything.
North Crowley head coach DeMarcus Harris, who was promoted after the 2025 season, said Jacobs decision to stay was selfless.
He could have left and went to private school, Harris said.
He said, No, I want to stay.
[North Crowley] is where I want to be.
And to see him fight through that ..
the way he handled it, the way his family handled it, was awesome.
He showed humility, and I think hes grown a lot from it.
As Jacob watched from the sidelines, North Crowley did not defend its 2024 Class 6A Division I state title.
The Panthers tallied a 12-2 record, falling to Allen in the regional finals.
The hardest part was probably watching my teammates go to battle without me, because I know how much it meant for them, Jacob said.
It was definitely one of the toughest years of my life because football is everything to me.
Without it, Im just a normal kid.
I dont know what Id do without football.
Jacob had to focus on what he could control.
So, he said he set his mind on being the best teammate, elevating his leadership, watching film and staying in peak physical condition.
And just trying to be positive for my teammates, Torres said.
To coach up the quarterbacks, even though I wasnt playing.
So, I tried to be as productive as I could during the season.
And I had to be patient.
Facing another setback It was already a challenging year, but things took another turn for the worse when he broke his collarbone playing JV ball.
It took about three months for it to fully heal, Torres said.
No surgery needed, but as soon as I was able to move it, I did physical therapy to get it back to where it was, and even better.
It was another challenge in a stressful year.
Thankfully for Jacob, he had several people in his corner who were there for him when he needed it.
My family, coaches and teammates supported me, Jacob said.
Theyll come check on me, talk to me and make sure Im good.
Taking care of his mental health was his parents top priority.
We talked every each and every day, said Stefanie Torres, Jacobs mother.
I also told him if he felt so sad that I couldnt help him, to let me know so that we could get him professional help.
We just stuck together as a family, and we just stayed positive.
Despite the emotional hardships, Jacob still had goals to accomplish and a path forward.
It wasnt just about him playing football, Antonio Torres said.
It was about starting and finishing something in life.
And when challenges and adversity come up, how do you react? What he brings to North Crowleys offense North Crowley coaches have high expectations for Torres, a dual threat with a cannon of an arm.
He can attack downfield with strength and accuracy, giving North Crowleys speedy offense the tools to thrive.
He can make every throw, and hes athletic, Harris said.
He can run, and he just understands the offense.
He understands the flow.
Hes done this before, so were just excited to see him go to work.
North Crowley has a reputation for building state-leading offensive lines.
On top of that, Torres will be surrounded by talented teammates, including four-star wide receiver Damarion Mays and three-star North Texas commit Gyrell Smith.
North Crowley quarterbacks coach Jeremy Hodge said he expects Torres to take command of the offense with an ability to extend a play that is second to none.
And then on top of that, his big throws with his big arm and the accuracy downfield I havent seen anything like it, Hodge said.
Did sitting out affect recruitment? After his standout season with Centennial, offers from Sacramento State and Lamar came in.
Sitting out during a pivotal junior season slowed things down.
I couldnt show some coaches what I was capable of and how much I progressed throughout the summer, Jacob said.
I think it affected [recruiting] a lot.
There was one big positive for Torres.
At North Crowley, a Texas powerhouse under the national spotlight, recruiters visit the program to scout talent.
Weve got freshman and JV kids with offers, Harris said.
But he wanted to show that production.
He still has a chance for all those college coaches to come see him in the spring.
Of course, [sitting out] hurt a little bit, but it wouldnt be like if he was somewhere else.
In 2026, offers came in from Wagner and Arkansas-Monticello.
As an uncommitted senior, Torres has one main thing to prove: That he can thrive against Texas high school footballs toughest competition when the lights are brightest.
Torres may not have extensive game experience in Class 6A, but he does face something Harris thinks is just as challenging: North Crowleys defense in practice.
We feel good about where hes at and where his mental is at, Harris said.
He stayed involved.
He went to every game.
He was on the sideline, and hes asking questions.
He was at the meetings.
He saw the game from a coachs perspective.
North Crowley offensive coordinator Kevin Park said Torres leadership will make a difference, calling him a great teammate.
I think his mental edge and his competitiveness are what really sets him apart, Park said.
Torres will need that fire as North Crowley, ranked No.
4 in Class 6A, will start non-district play against local powers Aledo and Southlake Carroll.
Missing that season doesnt affect who I am, Jacob said.
And Im going to come back stronger.
My response was to keep my head down and keep working day by day, because one dramatic life event doesnt define the player you are.
Looking forward With North Crowley officially starting its season Aug.
28, Torres is set to take the field with a varsity team for the first time in 651 days.
How will Antonio Torres feel as his son returns? Nervous is an understatement, he said.
But ultimately, I think hes been subjected to a lot of the pressures, Antonio said.
Hes been under the lights before.
Jacob already has chemistry with his teammates, many of whom he has known his whole life.
Now, hes simply electing to trust his preparation and the lessons learned throughout the past year.
Its going to be mixed emotions, Jacob said.
Im going to be happy, and Im going to be a little nervous.
In the first game back, I think thats pretty normal.
Im just ready to ball out this year.
Through the good and the bad, the past year gave Torres perspective beyond his age.
I learned to not take anything for granted because it could get taken away real fast, Jacob said.
No matter what, youve got to be grateful for what youve got.