Bobeck excited about team’s talent pool, ‘really cool energy’
EDMOND — The attrition of the 2020 Covid college football season has changed Nick Bobeck’s definition of experience.
Bobeck, in his 10th year as the Central Oklahoma coach, has a plethora of players who redshirted as freshmen in 2019, worked through the inactive year of 2020 and now are in their third season as Bronchos, awaiting their initial playing time.
“I consider those veterans,” said Bobeck. “We have to make sure those guys are ready to play, because they
haven’t felt it. It’s been fun, too. You see those young guys, their eyes are opening up.”
Today, we begin a series on smallcollege football in Oklahoma, starting with UCO.
Keats Calhoon is a Broncho veteran. Calhoon, from Tulsa Victory Christian, started three games in 2018, his third season at UCO, before a knee injury sidelined him. Then Calhoon started twice in 2019 before another knee injury shelved him.
But Calhoon is being pushed by Texas Christian transfer Stef Brown, who is only 20 years old but already is at his fourth college stop – Appalachian State in 2018, Independence (Kansas) Community College in 2019 and TCU in 2020. Brown, who played high school football in North Carolina, didn’t play at either Appalachian State or TCU.
Offensively, Bobeck is counting on tight end Daunte McGee from Yukon (12 catches in 2019), wide receiver Josh Moore (16 catches in ‘19) and offensive linemen Seth Carmack (Bethany), Layne Grantham (Westmoore) and Alex Eichler (Edmond Memorial).
On defense, linemen Joseph Roque (Clinton) and Derrick Shaw (Broken Arrow), linebackers Jason Harris (Tulsa Washington) and Marlo Hughes (Enid), and defensive backs Dylan Buchhite (Moore) and Daniel Baughman are the key players.
On the Division II level, the 2020 season was wiped out by the pandemic. The Bronchos had a full spring practice, including a scrimmage against Southern Nazarene. But’s that’s not the same as getting ready for games.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Bobeck said. “The kids are excited. There’s a really cool energy about ‘em. They’re excited.
“The best way to develop is play the game. Being able to compete against other people.”
The Bronchos are 43-47 under Bobeck — whose first season, 2012, coincided with the move to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The Bronchos struggled early in the MIAA, going 2-8 in each of their first two seasons, but are 40-30 since.
“Obviously we play in a tough conference,” Bobeck said. “But we can play with anybody in the country.
“I think we’re close. We’ve played at the top of our league. Won three of four bowl games. Beaten everybody in the league now. We’re close. Just comes back to consistency year in and year. The dips aren’t as drastic.
“We’ve gotten our talent pool to where we want it to be. I feel really good about where we are and the potential for this football team.”