Quarterback Connor Doherty has spent more than a decade shaping his craft and mindset at Arizona College Prep High School in Queen Creek, Arizona. A member of the Class of 2028, Connor began playing football eleven years ago after friends encouraged him to join a team — and from that moment, the game became his passion and purpose.
Connor thrives on competition and pressure, embracing the challenges that come with being under center. “All eyes are on you,” he says. “When things go wrong, you have to learn to pivot in the moment. The game is a process. One play goes wrong, focus on the next. One foot after the other. You have to stay committed to the process.” Perseverance, he believes, is the defining quality of a great quarterback.
Inspired by Tom Brady, whom he calls “the greatest to ever do it,” Connor studies the game with an emphasis on leadership, composure, and constant growth. Off the field, he channels that same mentality into self-improvement. “Every day I make small adjustments to be better in life and better on the field,” he says. “The thing that matters most is being happy with the person I see looking back at me.”
Connor’s football journey includes an impressive list of camps and competitions. He’s attended and won the Elev8QB Top Eight Class of 2028 competition in 2025 and has also competed at GroundUp QB Under the Lights, UA Next, Rivals Combine LA, Wilson QBX, Manning Passing Academy, and QB Universe Leadership Retreat, among others. “There’s always someone bigger and better than you,” he says. “You have to know you can play with the best to be the best.”
His short-term goal is to make his offseason training a success by hitting every benchmark set by himself and his coaches. Long term, he’s focused on building genuine progress in the recruiting process and drawing attention from college programs. Despite facing pressure to switch positions earlier in his career, Connor stayed true to his instincts. “In my heart, I knew I wanted to be a quarterback, so that’s what I did,” he says. “I blocked out the noise and worked to prove them wrong.”
Before each game, Connor keeps his mind calm by talking with teammates or watching something on his phone. “The most important thing is that I’m not nervous,” he explains. That steady mindset has carried him through seasons filled with adversity, especially his JV campaign — a year that tested his resilience but left him with lasting memories and valuable lessons.
Connor credits youth coach Allen Cieniuch for seeing his potential early. “He pushed me to play quarterback because he thought I could fill the role well. I didn’t want to at first, but I listened — and it all worked out. Without him, I might have never played the position I love.”
Training remains a central part of his life. Connor works twice a week with speed and agility coach Jacob Cabezudo at CAB Training, trains on weekends with quarterback coach Trey Anderson at Ground Up QB Training, and lifts regularly to build strength for next season.
His philosophy is simple but powerful: “Love the process. Love the little things that separate yourself from others. Be hyper-focused on getting the details right. It takes time to achieve your goals, so stick with it no matter what.”
From his early start in youth football to his continued rise as a dedicated leader, Connor Doherty embodies what it means to trust the grind and stay true to the journey — one play, one step, and one goal at a time.