Wes Ammons did not start playing football until seventh grade, after he watched his best friend, former South Sumter High quarterback Landen Sherman, run the offense and decided he wanted the same job.

“What made me get into football was honestly Landen,” Wes says. “Watching him play QB made me want to do it as well. We are best of friends but we were always competitive with each other which made it fun for the both of us.” Landen is now an NCAA Division II college quarterback with Tusculum University in Tennessee.

Now a senior quarterback at Wildwood Middle High School, Wes has turned that early inspiration into a breakout season. He has completed 74 of 142 passes for 1,281 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping the Wildcats bounce back after three straight losing seasons. Wildwood is currently 5-1.

Coach Rhett Caruthers describes Ammons as the team’s jokester and a natural leader.

“Wes is our jokester. He’s always smiling, having fun and bringing energy people want to be around,” Caruthers says. “He’s a team first kid who puts his brothers before himself. He cares more about winning than stats or attention, which is exactly the kind of leader you want.”

Caruthers also praised Ammons’ physical tools and decision-making.

“He’s incredibly strong for 165 pounds, and he can flat-out run,” the coach says. “He’s surrounded by great athletes and doesn’t try to do everything himself. He gets the ball out quickly and lets our playmakers work. That unselfishness has been a big reason for our success.”

Wes’ primary targets have rewarded that approach. Junior Cam Solis has more than 500 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Senior Jeremiah Corbin has added 412 yards and four scores.

For Wes, the turnaround at Wildwood has meant everything to him.

“It’s been a blessing,” Wes says. “I know the boys love it. After not a great season last year and now being able to win games as a team has been the most exciting thing. Watching the boys have a smile on their face meant everything to me.”

He says the locker-room atmosphere made the transition seamless. “The vibe in the locker room is awesome. The guys took me in as family as soon as I stepped in. It was definitely easy and comfortable to know you are a part of a family as soon as you step on campus.” Wes transferred to Wildwood after playing at South Sumter in previous years.

His favorite pregame ritual is the collective focus just before kickoff. “Pre game hype is my favorite part, where everyone is getting focused and locked in before taking the field. That’s the best part.”

The excitement of the game is why so many play it, and for Wes, it’s the special moments that come with throwing touchdowns. “My favorite memory so far is throwing the first touchdown pass of the game to get the momentum flowing. Seeing everyone on the sideline turn up after the first touchdown just puts me in my zone.”

Wes credits a knowledgeable quarterback coach for simplifying the position and points to his father and coach Caruthers as his biggest supporters.

“My dad is my biggest role model. He has always done everything he could to make sure I have what I needed. Coach Rhett has also made sure I have and also everyone on the team has had food, water, anything you need he has done for them.”

The most important lesson Coach Caruthers has taught him, Wes says, is “Never give up on myself. You have people who believe in you, go out there and just have fun and relax. You are never going to be perfect. As a QB you are going to make mistakes. It’s the hardest position to master. All you have to do is have the next play mentality.”

Wes has enjoyed every moment of his high school football career and he offers advice to young players. “Enjoy it while you can. I never believed it went by fast but it really does. … Live in the moment. After all football is just a game, go out and have fun, stop thinking that every play is a life or death situation.”

When he’s not playing football, Wes is a model student and maintains a 3.8 GPA. He finds calm on the golf course. “When I’m outside of football, I love to play golf. … My mind goes blank, there are no worries in the world, and it gets me into a calm state of mind.”

After graduation, Wes plans to attend the University of South Florida, study business and finance, earn a degree and sell insurance, with the possibility of returning to Wildwood to mentor future quarterbacks. For now, Wes is focused on being the best player and teammate he possibly can and leading Wildwood to their first winning season since 2022.