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His love of the Cardinals鈥� wide receiver is so strong, Jorgenson鈥檚 own teammates and classmates have taken to calling him Fitz.

It, well, fits.

鈥淚 just have a big heart for it 鈥� a big passion,鈥� said Jorgenson, a sophomore. 鈥淓ver since I started playing football, I never wanted to stop. I just wanted to keep playing and keep playing.鈥�

Jorgenson was diagnosed with autism at age 6, but he doesn鈥檛 quite fit that mold anymore. For one, doctors no longer use pervasive developmental disorder as a means to diagnose autism. Jorgenson doesn鈥檛 meet some of the other markers that indicate autism, either. Still, his mother, Erin, said autism is usually the simplest way to describe her son鈥檚 condition.

鈥淲e know he fits some of that diagnosis, but not all of it,鈥� Erin Jorgenson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 closely related to whatever his challenges are.鈥�

On the field, Jorgenson 鈥� who is listed as a defensive back and wide receiver 鈥� is working his way into game action. Coach Jeff Scurran has used him on kickoffs; he鈥檚 also caught a pass and made a start. Foothills (4-4) will take on Salpointe Catholic on Friday at 7 p.m.

On the sidelines, Jorgenson鈥檚 love for football can brighten his teammates鈥� days. Defensive captain Bobby Heizinger said there鈥檚 moments when the team is having an off day 鈥� maybe it鈥檚 raining, or just a blah Monday 鈥� but Jorgenson helps get everyone in the right mood.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people who come out or they鈥檒l sit out or take a play off, and he doesn鈥檛,鈥� Heizinger said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 constantly out here, he鈥檚 constantly working, he鈥檚 constantly got the right football mindset and he鈥檚 constantly showing up on time. We really can鈥檛 ask for anything else from him.鈥�

Jorgenson said he loves being part of the team .

鈥淎ll my teammates love me and encourage me and support me all the time and I support them and try to return the favor because that鈥檚 just what teammates are for,鈥� Jorgenson said.

Erin Jorgenson was concerned when Aiden wanted to try out for football in high school. He played a year of Pop Warner football as a boy and a year of flag football in middle school.

鈥淥bviously, I was concerned because of some of the things I hear about injuries and concussions, but they鈥檙e so careful now,鈥� Erin Jorgenson said. 鈥淲e just thought 鈥楢iden鈥檚 got to make his own choice鈥� and it was his passion.

鈥淚 just figured he loved it so much, I would never dare stand in the way of it. It鈥檚 the one thing he鈥檚 really passionate about. Yeah, obviously, concerned like any mom would be, but I鈥檝e got to let him choose his path.鈥�

Now, Jorgenson has a couple of goals he鈥檇 like to accomplish: Attend a Cardinals game and find a football future past high school.

鈥�(I鈥檓) definitely trying to be the best football player that I can possibly be, give it my best effort and hopefully play college football,鈥� he said.