After stepping away from the sport as a child, senior defensive end Jacques Penn has returned to football to tackle quarterbacks for the Raiders.
Penn first started playing at 7 years old for a Shaker youth team, The Brawlers, but didn’t enjoy the physical side of the sport and quit. He didn’t return to football until his sophomore year, joining the team to be part of a school activity. “What made me want to continue playing was the team environment and the fact that our varsity team went to playoffs in 2024 with a record of 7-4,” Penn said.
Now a 6-foot-2-inch, 208-pound senior, Penn plays defensive end with a goal to help his teammates make their plays. “I basically make [the quarterback] feel uncomfortable to make it easier for others to tackle,” he said.
Head football coach Alex Nicholson said that Penn has grown as a player. “His playing is night and day from last year to this year. He’s violent. He’s hitting people. He’s doing his job and flying around,” he said.
Penn noted changes in his confidence. “As I got bigger and made more accomplishments, my confidence grew, too,” he said.
Senior captain Isaac Smith said that Penn is a strong leader. “Jacques is a key factor to our amazing defense as well as a great role model for younger players,” he said.
Nicholson said that Penn’s hard work makes him a model teammate. “He’s a really easygoing guy. He just wants to work really hard, and doesn’t really say a whole lot,” Nicholson said.
For Penn, the team’s environment is just as important off the field. “On the field our climate is really competitive and disciplined,” he said. “Off the field, the team is like a family.”
Said Penn, “We hang out, look out for each other in school and make sure everyone is in a good place.”
This story appears on page 11 of the Sept. 26, 2025 print edition.