Editor’s Note: Wildcat Football continues to prepare for the 2018 Season. KSST Sports Director Don Julien is doing a series with various position coaches regarding players that will make an impact this season.
Young on Running Backs
Wildcats Football Offensive Coordinator Matt Young also coaches the varsity running back group. He has a group of four this season. Coach Young has two seniors: veteran Colton Allen and Kaleb Myles. Allen is an experienced back with three years on the varsity. He has been a team leader in carries and yards rushing. Coach Young said Allen is strong, runs low to the ground and can make cuts that seem impossible. He said Allen has converted a lot of third downs for the Wildcats. Coach Young calls him “Sunshine”. Senior Kaleb Myles is a physical runner according to Coach Young. He added that Myles is a great teammate, is pleasant to be around and really goes to work when he hits the field. Coach Young also has junior Da’Korian Sims. Coach Young said Sims weighs 190 to 195 pounds and is a load when he carries the football. He also said Sims can show explosive speed. Sims had a tremendous summer getting in shape according to Coach Young. The Wildcats fourth varsity running back is sophomore Caden Davis. Coach Young said Davis plays with a lot of energy and runs with his knees high. He said Davis’ tremendous work ethic has him in the mix for playing time. Coach Young said the running backs need to be able to pass protect and be dependable with the football.
Coach V on Defensive Linemen
Chris Valdovinos is in his fourth year coaching defensive linemen for the Wildcats varsity. The defensive line was a strength for the Wildcats last year and they lost three very good defensive linemen to graduation. Coach V said senior Jose Rodriguez is his most experienced returnee. Rodriguez has been on the varsity since he was a sophomore. Senior Evan Rushing also took some varsity snaps as a defensive lineman last season. Coach V’s largest man on the defensive line is senior Ignacio “Nacho” Guerrero. Coach Valdovinos is intrigued with junior Cameron Kaufert, a JV player last year that Coach V said is tall, long and rangy. Senior Michael Arrington also played some last year. Another of the larger defensive linemen is junior Chandler Leo. Other defensive linemen include junior Romeo Hawkins-Davis, junior Landis Holt-Hughes and senior Hunter Goodson. Coach V said most of the defensive linemen have not played on Friday night before so he is challenging them to play at that level. Coach Valdovinos said the role of the defensive linemen in the Wildcats’ 3-4 defense is to tie up as many offensive linemen as possible so Wildcats’ linebackers can run free and make tackles. He said defensive linemen must also stop the run, especially plays between the tackles. Coach Valdovinos said Sulphur Springs does not usually have prototypical defensive linemen but he said the ones he has are feisty and will fight you. Coach V said he loves football and coaching kids. He said that’s why he does what he does.
