Chicago’s most-hated player, Aaron Rodgers, has not only rubber-stamped his position as the future Hall of Famer but has left Green Bay mentoring a future star. Jordan Love. Love’s rise to stardom was realized in the 2023 season when he burst into the season. The pigskin fanatics saw the best of him, and the boy deserved to be the franchise QB.

And guess what? The Packers saw that as well, handing him the $220 million extension for four years. This deal made him the joint-highest-paid quarterback in the league with the Vikings’ Trevor Lawrence and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow—both of the deals locked on $275 million for 5 years. But interestingly, his journey did not ‘begin’ in 2023. He’s already been a pro prospect since high school, growing up to his college days.

Jordan Love’s numbers in high school

Jordan Love might not have been the flashiest recruit, but he sure left an impact at Liberty High. A three-star quarterback and ranked 66th among pro-style QBs in the 2016 class, Love steered Liberty to its first-ever Central Section Division I Championship in 2015, bouncing back strong after a runner-up finish the previous year.

In his senior season, Love was lighting the gridiron with his arms and legs. Splitting opposition defenses in half. Guess that’s why he was named CIF Division I Valley League Offensive Player of the Year. But also because he threw for 2,148 yards and 24 touchdowns, and didn’t stop there. Talk about a dual-threat! Before that, as a junior, he passed it for 1,930 yards and 18 touchdowns. Oh, and when he wasn’t out there making headlines as an up-and-coming signal caller, he was balling on the basketball court.

Love’s three years in Utah

Jordan Love is from Bakersfield, California. So, there’s no two minds about it that he went to Utah State. And he was a keen aspirant as well, as he joined the Aggies despite offers from Eastern Washington and Sacramento State. Even though Love didn’t come from a top-tier program, he still put up numbers so good that it reflected he could go toe-to-toe with the big boys. And boy, he did!

Jordan Love’s college career was like a highlight reel, boasting a solid 61.2% completion rate with 8,600 passing yards and 60 touchdowns. His tenure led the Aggies to a 26-15 record and a New Mexico Bowl win in 2018, earning him Second-Team All-Mountain West honors and a Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist nod. But how does that stack up against Aaron Rodgers’ college prowess?

Rodgers, in just two years at UCLA, completed 63.8% of his passes for 5,469 yards, 43 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. And let’s not forget his jaw-dropping 1.95% interception rate and his impressive stint at Butte Community College with 2,408 yards and 28 touchdowns. If you’re wondering why Love’s drawing comparisons to his mentor Rodgers, look no further.

So, what’s the takeaway? Jordan Love’s ready to carry the torch, but can he match Rodgers’ legendary career? Only time will tell, but the early signs are there.