Johnnie quarterback Aaron Syverson leaves his mark on football program

When quarterback Aaron Syverson transferred to St. John’s from Colorado State during his sophomore year, he quickly noticed a difference in team culture.

“My first impression of the team was that it seemed like a really close group of guys. Much closer than my team when I was at Colorado State,” Syverson said via email.

Quarterback is a position that benefits from height, so when the 6-feet, 195-pound Syverson showed up in 2021, his teammates weren’t sure how good he would be.

“He didn’t look anything like he did now. He was just this random kid. So I was like, alright, well, cool. We’ll see if you can play,” fifth-year wide receiver Nick VanErp said. “Once spring ball started right away, I knew he was gonna be really good.”

Syverson became the starter his first fall as a Johnnie and led the Johnnies to a 7-0 record before breaking his ankle. The injury cut his first season as a Johnnie short, but rehabbing his ankle helped him prepare for the next season despite not being able to practice in the spring.

“I think the added PT helped me come back stronger for the season,” Syverson said.

His junior year, he threw for 3,302 yards with 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. This performance earned him an All-MIAC distinction.

Because he transferred, Syverson was eligible to play in the 2023 season despite having been through four years of college.

Syverson’s 2023 season put him among the top quarterbacks in Division III. Through the MIAC playoffs, he threw for the second-most yards in Division III (3,435) and was tied for the most passing touchdowns (45). He also decreased the number of interceptions he threw from 13 in 2022 to six in 2023.

Syverson attributes his improvement to staying disciplined in the weight room and identifying areas where he could improve.

Syverson broke several records, throwing the most touchdown passes in a MIAC season (37), breaking the St. John’s single-game record for passing yards (498) and tying the St. John’s single-game record for passing touchdowns (seven).

“Aaron did all of the off-the-field preparations, watching film of opponents, watching film of our practices and then using that information to become a great quarterback,” head coach Gary Fasching said via email.

Fasching thinks that quarterback is the hardest position to play effectively in any sport, as it is one that requires you to make fast decisions with other players trying to tackle you.

“Aaron became very good at making those quick decisions, and his quick release of the football allowed him to put the ball in spots that other quarterbacks would not be able to do,” Fasching said. “We challenged Aaron this year to prepare better for both practices and games, and he made huge strides in that area, meeting with our offensive coaches and completely understanding the game plan each and every week.”

VanErp agreed that Syverson’s preparation and knowledge of the game elevated his play this year.

“His knowledge of the game is just way higher than everybody else’s, which is just really cool to see, especially when we play teams like Augsburg, who are gonna try to throw something new at us,” VanErp said.

VanErp finished the year with 809 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, increasing his career total to 20 touchdowns. He credits Syverson for helping him achieve success.

“He just gave me every chance to succeed, honestly. He’s that talented, where he puts the ball only where we can get it, and I think that allowed me to be a better player,” VanErp said.

St. John’s failed to make the NCAA tournament despite finishing the season 8-2 and 7-1 in the MIAC. Despite not advancing to the tournament, Syverson ranks among the leaders in Johnnie football history in a number of statistics.

Syverson ended his career as the St. John’s program leader in completion percentage (66.3%), third in passing yards (8,506), passing touchdowns (96) and sixth in quarterback wins (25). He finished his career with a 25-4 record.

“We have been very fortunate over many years to have some great QBs here at St. John’s, and Aaron certainly belongs in that group,” Fasching said. “When you have a QB of his caliber, it allows you to do so many things offensively that other teams would not ever attempt.”

Syverson also acknowledged that there have been some outstanding quarterbacks to wear the St. John’s uniform and believes it’s an honor to be mentioned alongside them. He also wants his impact to be felt after he leaves, wanting to leave a legacy of a strong work ethic and treating teammates well.

“[Syverson] has great leadership qualities,” Fasching said. “He was our leader and players responded to him in a positive way.”