Jackson High quarterback Landon Duckworth is set to choose soon between Auburn and South Carolina for his college football future.

However, the 6-foot-4 rising senior also could be a college basketball player if that was his chosen path.

“That is just who he is,” Aggies’ basketball coach Anthony Hayes said. “He is a Division 1 talent regardless of the sport.”

All Duckworth did during his junior season was help the Aggies to the Class 4A state football and basketball titles and take part in the Aggies’ winning 4X100 meter relay team in the Outdoor Track and Field Meet in Gulf Shores.

He was an easy choice for AL.com’s Coastal Male Athlete of the Year for 2024-2025.

“Landon is the ultimate competitor,” Hayes said. “He wants to excel at whatever he does. He wants to do well for his community and his coaches. Regardless of the realm he’s in, he will always have that attached to him. He’s going to be successful in whatever he does.”

Duckworth, a one-time South Carolina commit already, has largely made his name on the football field. Last fall, he was named Class 4A Back of the Year after completing 67 percent of his passes for 3,439 yards and 39 TDs. He also rushed for 648 yards and 12 scores. He was one of the top quarterbacks at last week’s prestigious Elite 11 event.

“What you see is what you get,” Jackson football coach Cody Flournoy said. “The thing I love most about him is just the kind of person he is. He’s a nice, good dude. He is always smiling, loves to be around people. He has that infectious, happy personality.”

Duckworth was the MVP of the state football championship game against Cherokee County. He went 14-of-17 for 325 yards and 5 TDs in the victory.

“He still does things that impress me every day,” Flournoy said. “I’m a defensive guy by trade. So, I’m out there in the spring and summer trying to defend him and he frustrates me so bad because he makes it look so easy. He hits all his passes, reads all the coverages and, if you do have it covered, he just takes off running. It’s hard to defend.”

Flournoy said that ability to escape will make Duckworth a success on the next level as well.

“He’s not a sitting target,” he said. “Sure, he’s smart with a big arm and all that stuff, but a lot of college coaches have gone to that quarterback who can move in the pocket and make plays. He’s not on the verge of having that skill set. He’s got that now. When you get him in a good offense where they trust him, good things are going to happen.”

Good things happened the last two years with Duckworth on the basketball court as the Aggies repeated as state champs.

This season, Duckworth averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds for a balanced Jackson team that defeated Plainview for the title.

“What you see on the football field is what you get on the basketball court as well,” Hayes said. “Landon is a natural leader regardless of the sport. He has all the intangibles and just makes everyone around him better.”

Duckworth was an honorable mention Coastal Alabama All-Region basketball selection. He then finished his athletic year with another victory with his teammates in the 4X100 relay at the state track meet in Gulf Shores.

Duckworth’s senior athletic year will be much shorter than his junior season as he is expected to graduate in December and head to college in January following his final football season.