Varsity's learning curve is sped up
CHOCTAW — Their eyes weren't quite wide when it came time to run out of the tunnel.
In the past, it was a rare sight to see an underclassman play a big role in a high school football game. Now it has become somewhat commonplace.
Throughout all classifications of high school football, underclassmen are more ready for bigger roles during varsity contests than ever before. It's a combination of how young kids begin the sport and the increased attention to detail at the youth and middle school levels.
“Kids are exposed to a lot more football a lot earlier now ,” Choctaw coach Jake Corbin said .“For instance, there's kids in our youth program in fifth and sixth grade that we couldn't do when I was in high school.”
Seven underclassmen started for the Yellowjackets during t heir Friday opener against Shawnee at Bill Jensen Field.
Sophomore offensive lineman Cade McConnell is already a highly- touted recruiting prospect.
For Shawnee, sophomore Jaylon Orange was arguably its best skill player last season, and his load is only expected to increase this season. That showed Friday.
During his freshman season, Orange intercepted six passes, which was tied for the most in Class 6A-II. Against Choctaw, he was used in a variety of ways to try and utilize his skillset.
Corbin also said it's a tribute to how much middle school coaches are doing when it comes to athlete development. Even in the past five years, football players are doing more and more before they reach high school, therefore the athletes are more prepared for the physicality and speed of varsity football.
“It always amazes me how much those kids learn at a really, really young age,” Corbin said.
Athletes are lifting weights sooner and conditioning longer. They're watching film and running the same plays and schemes as their future high school from when they are 10 to 11 years old.
The case isn't the same at each school, though. At Mustang, coach Lee Blankenship said he's not going to have as many underclassmen playing this season because of how many seniors he has. The Broncos have 130 players from 10th thru 12th grade, with nearly 50 of those being seniors. For Blankenship, he sees the trend of younger players being more prepared, but it doesn't always work out to where they play.
“A senior is a senior ,” Blankenship said. “You can't argue with that experience.”