Wolves Discover New Identity

BROWN, DRAIN, SELLERS — NEW TO BACKFIELD

LINCOLN — Position changes made by the staff bode well for Lincoln football with receivers Cam Brown (6-2, 195) and Christian Sellers switching to tailback and lineman Bradley Drain shifting to fullback.

Lincoln needs more production from its running game this season. In 2017, the Wolves averaged 3.1-yards-per-rush after subtracting 208 yards in losses on 24 sacks of the quarterback. At times, the Wolves were relegated to playing a one-dimensional offense, which put enormous pressure on quarterback Caleb Lloyd. To change that, coaches switched Brown (4.7 speed) to tailback.

Brown and Sellers josh one another back and forth about getting good runs and hoping they have good blockers.

“We always help each other out with plays we don’t know,” Sellers said. “That way, next time we’ll know it.”

Cam Brown

Wolves’ coaches like Brown at tailback. He could generate some explosive plays running the ball that will open up the offense. The potential is exciting, or should be, for Wolves’ fans.

“We took Cam from wide receiver to tailback and when we talked to him about it, (the transition) and what to do, he was a little hesitant at first because he did like playing wide receiver, but I think he really likes it now running the ball and doing the things he’s doing,” said Lincoln coach Don Harrison, “He’s another guy that’s worked really hard in the weight room, put on a lot of weight.”

As a junior Brown ran the ball only five times for 18 yards. He is a threat to catch the ball as proven by his 35 receptions in 2017 for 477 yards, averaging 13.6-yards-per-catch with 5 touchdowns.

For Brown the biggest challenge is “the vision, just seeing from a different perspective.” The most enjoyable part is getting more touches.

“Once you get through the line it really opens up,” Brown said.

Defenses better pay attention to Brown.

Christian Sellers

Work ethic rewarded Sellers (6-1, 175), a junior, with his dream to run the football. Sellers backs up Brown at tailback in the Wolves’ depth chart, a spot he landed because of his work as a scout team running back last season.

“Christian has been in our system since I’ve been here (2015),” Harrison said. “He was a receiver, but a kid that put on some weight, worked really hard and kind of got the spot because last year we didn’t have a scout team running back and he would do it.”

Although he was a receiver, Sellers stepped up when Lincoln needed a scout team running back. Not merely satisfied with giving the first team defense a look by running the opponent’s offense, Sellers sought out positive yardage with every carry drawing praise from Harrison for his practice effort.

“He ran really hard, and when you’re running with the scout team line versus the first defense, and you’re getting yards and you’re dragging guys, we’re like, ‘we need to look at this guy, too.’ So, we put him there,” Harrison said.

Bradley Drain

In past seasons, Lincoln senior Drain blocked many an opponent to make way for a ball carrier, now he might be the one carrying the football in short yardage situations.

As a freshman Drain played middle linebacker for the 2015 Lincoln junior high football team on defense. He played in the trenches offensively throughout his career until this year. Drain (5-10, 240), now a senior, switched to fullback and gives Lincoln a big-back option to pound the ball inside.

“It’s something different, that’s for sure,” Drain said. “Coaches told me I could help the team out, be better. It’s a lot more work, but it’s definitely worth it. A lot more to keep up with.”

The switch for his senior season took Drain by surprise. While admitting adjusting brings challenges, he enjoys football.

“I definitely did not expect it,” Drain said. “I expected to be a lineman, but it’s definitely something new. It’s fun, it’s fun.”

Drain’s toughest adjustment, he says, comes from reshaping his mentality into that of a back. He wants to execute when called upon to run the ball or catch a pass, skills he did not have to concern himself with in past seasons.

“I just want to do good this year,” Drain said. “I’m a senior. I’m trying to be a leader, so I’m trying to push myself as hard as I can.”

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln junior Christian Sellers (6-1, 175), switching from wide receiver to tailback, is one of several players adjusting to a new role as coaches work to build a playoff team this season.