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Owen Eshelman's high school coach saw this coming long before his Washington State breakout

Washington State redshirt freshman quarterback Owen Eshelman delivered a standout collegiate debut in a 38-31 loss to Pac-12 co-leader Oregon State, racking up 289 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and 136 rushing yards with another score—a total that ranks as the second-highest rushing yardage by a Cougars QB in program history. His performance brought emotional validation for former Norman North High School coach Justin Jones, who watched the game during a road trip and described Eshelman’s first collegiate touchdown as a moment that brought tears to his eyes.

The connection between coach and player runs deep, as Jones had already spotted Eshelman’s potential years earlier when he first took the field as a backup quarterback in a high-stakes 2022 playoff game, throwing for 303 yards and three touchdowns in a narrow loss to eventual state champion Owasso. Eshelman’s journey to the starting role began as a ninth grader, when he initially played safety behind two future Division I quarterbacks, Gavin Frakes and Kamden Sixkiller.

After Sixkiller suffered a season-ending injury late in his sophomore year, Jones turned to Eshelman, who led Norman North to a 52-32 victory in the regular-season finale and then started the entire junior campaign, showcasing his dual-threat ability with a running style ahead of his passing development.

Jones has long emphasized Eshelman’s resilience and competitive fire, traits that became evident even in his first high school start. ‘He’s one of those players that can face a ton of adversity and keep thriving,’ Jones said, highlighting the quarterback’s toughness and adaptability.

The Norman North coach had no doubts about Eshelman’s readiness, calling him ‘very, very bright’ and noting his ability to elevate the team’s offense under pressure. With his collegiate debut already making waves, Eshelman’s story is one of perseverance, from defensive benchwarmer to a freshman leading the charge for Washington State’s future.

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