The Jamaican-born Simpson, 17, looked on with pride and wonder as Bolt electrified the world. Now Simpson is looking to provide a similar bolt of energy to the Wildcats, who are coming off an atypical 2-8 season and open the 2008 campaign at home against Sacramento on Friday. The 6-foot, 200-pound tailback/defensive back enters his third varsity season as one of the best players in the Peninsula Athletic League, if not the Central Coast Section.

Possessing speed, agility and underrated strength, Simpson totaled more than 1,200 yards from scrimmage and scored 13 touchdowns last year. Able to turn the corners and outrun defenders with ease, Simpson worked hard in the offseason to improve his power.

“I think last year I looked too much to outrun people,” he said. “This offseason I got into the weight room and got after it. I’ve never worked this hard before. I’m bigger, faster and stronger. I wanted to take those hits, lower my shoulders and drive my legs on more plays.”

Even though Simpson is looking to hit the hole harder and show he’s not just about speed, the fact of the matter is few players can keep up with him. Simpson has been timed by his coaches in the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds, but even he admits the 4.52 time he clocked at the Scout.com combine in the summer is probably more accurate. The point is Simpson can flat-out fly.

Over the last two years, Simpson has eluded defenses with his ability to find a hole and accelerate into the open field. Once he gets there, it’s all over for the opposition. Before Simpson gets the ball he pores over the defense for a pre-snap read. Then he says a few words to himself before his instincts take over. Perhaps it’s no coincidence Simpson has a tremendous burst. Growing up, Simpson was just like any other Jamaican kid — he ran.

And ran. And ran. And kept on running until he got tired.

In Jamaica, kids start school at age 3, and shortly after that they get involved in the country’s favorite sports, soccer and track, Simpson said. Each school would have its own mini Olympic competition, and the best runners got to compete in the national championships in Jamaica’s national stadium.

“You just run to run,” he said. “That’s how it all starts, and that’s why you see so many fast Jamaican sprinters. You start running at an early age for the love of it, and then you start realizing your dream.”

While track was Simpson’s first love, he developed an affinity for soccer as well. Simpson and his friends played soccer bare-footed even though he could afford shoes. They collected milk bottles and juice cartons and made a soccer ball out of them, and used cans as the goal. When Simpson’s family immigrated to Chicago in 1999, Simpson had no understanding of American football.

“I only knew American football as rugby,” he said.

Simpson didn’t take a liking to football at first. He watched the Chicago Bears on television only because he couldn’t find soccer games on the tube. Simpson only started to get into America’s most popular viewed sport after playing the Madden football video game. He moved to the Bay Area in ’02 and started playing Pop Warner football as an eighth-grader.

“For a guy who hasn’t played football that long, it’s amazing to see how far Jason has come,” Woodside coach Steve Nicolopulos said. “The best part is he’s only going to get better. He’s stepped up and has become one of our team leaders. Obviously he’s pretty fast. Maybe we have another Usain Bolt.”

Nicolopulos raves about Simpson’s attitude and skills, but there’s one thing that gets to the irascible coach.

“He gets upset when I juggle the football in practice,” Simpson laughed.

Simpson tries to mold himself after one of his friends, Desarte Yarnway of Sacred Heart Cathedral. Yarnway, a tailback, is one of the top-rated players in Northern California. Simpson is receiving interest from Division I schools at cornerback. Although he would like to play tailback, he’ll have no complaints about playing defense at the next level.

For now, Simpson is focusing on the upcoming season, doing whatever he can to make sure Woodside returns to the playoffs. Can the Wildcats go from 2-8 to PAL Bay Division champions in one year? Simpson says yes, even though others might feel differently. After all, no one expected Jamaica to dominate the Olympic sprint events, and they just about sweeped them.

“There was a huge sense of pride there,” Simpson said. “My family and I stayed up late and watched all the events together. They made Jamaica proud.”

Spurred by a sense of pride from his homeland, Simpson is looking to make his own mark in a country he’s grown equally proud of, America.

Emanuel Lee can be reached at emanuel@smdailyjournal.com and (650) 344 5200, ext. 109.