Gobbler Fan
08-01-2006, 05:16 AM
MIKE FORMAN - Advocate Sports Writer
AUSTIN - Cuero's J.T. Rudd thought his days of playing defensive end were behind him until he arrived at the University of Texas to begin practicing for the Texas High School Coaches Association's All-Star football game.
Rudd discovered the South squad included seven other linebackers and as a result, Rudd will start at defensive end in today's game, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
"I'm used to it and I've done it pretty much my whole life," Rudd said. "I figured I might as well play there one more time. It will be the last time so I want to make the best of it."
Rudd will be joined in the South's starting lineup by Shiner's Dylan Hagens, who will play right guard.
The head coach for the South squad will be Gregory-Portland's George Harris, who previously coached at Refugio.
Rudd played eight positions at Cuero - guard, center, tight end, defensive end, linebacker, fullback, wide receiver, and deep snapper - but will move to linebacker at the University of Houston, where he will begin working out Wednesday.
Rudd played mostly defensive end and tight end while helping to lead the Gobblers to the Class 3A, Division II semifinals last season. He had 57 tackles, including 32 solo stops, 28 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, one caused fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Rudd graded out as 98 percent as a blocker and had 23 pancake blocks and nine of his 18 receptions went for touchdowns. Rudd was selected as the MVP of the Advocate's all-area team and was a first-team pick on the Texas Sports Writers Association's all-state team.
"It's different," Rudd said of playing in the all-star game. "When I was a fan, I thought it was all about winning. But now that I'm here, I know it's about being with guys who are going to all these big schools and being a part of that with them."
Blitzing is not allowed in the all-star game so Rudd has had to adjust his approach to playing defensive end.
"He's familiar with it because he played there at Cuero but it's going to be tough for him because he can't blitz," said South defensive coordinator David McKinney, who previously coached at Refugio before moving to Gregory-Portland with Harris. "But he's quick and that should help him. He lost some weight to play linebacker. He's just going to have to get used to holding back."
The 6-foot-2 Rudd should be a lot quicker than he was last season, after dropping from 235 to 220 pounds to prepare for his college career.
"I've just been eating right," Rudd said. "I cut out junk food and sodas. I knew I would have to get lighter to play linebacker."
The 6-7, 270-pound Hagens played on the offensive line during his career at Shiner and will do so at Baylor. Hagens helped lead the Comanches to the Class 1A regional playoffs last season while grading out at 98 percent and recording 23 pancake blocks.
But Hagens is getting his first experience at playing in an offense that operates out of the shotgun and will frequently put the ball in the air.
"It's real different coming from a strictly run offense," Hagens said of blocking in Shiner's veer offense. "It's a lot quicker. But it's real good for me. It will get me used to playing with more speed."
Hagens suffered a setback when a defensive player fell on his left leg during the first day of practice but recovered in time to learn a starting position.
"It's been a little learning process for him," said offensive line coach Art Arguijo, the former Woodsboro head coach, who has now an assistant coach under Harris at Gregory-Portland. "He's used to firing off and driving people instead of pass blocking."
Hagens has no doubt what he's learned preparing for the all-star game and the competition he'll face in the game, will help him when he reports to Waco to begin working out at Baylor on Wednesday.
"I'm going to be doing a lot of pass blocking," Hagens said. "Definitely a lot of pass blocking."
NOTES: Former Schulenburg head football coach Brad Oden was a member of the selection committee for the South. Oden resigned after last season and had planned to teach at Schulenburg. But Oden has taken a position as an assistant coach at Rice Consolidated.
Charles Breithaupt, athletic director for the University Interscholastic League, said the Class 5A state championship football games will be played at 2 p.m., and 7 p.m., on Dec. 23 on the Alamodome in San Antonio. Breithaupt said holding the state championship games at a single site for the first time since 1921 will be a "historic moment for the UIL."
Breithaupt said all UIL coaches and officials are now required to participate in the Coaches and Officials Positive Experience (COPE) program either with a UIL staff member or a local administrator.
Breithaupt admitted the UIL has looked into a separate realignment and reclassification for football but said it is unlikely to occur anytime in the near future.
Will this game be shown on T.V. ?
Go get em J.T. !
AUSTIN - Cuero's J.T. Rudd thought his days of playing defensive end were behind him until he arrived at the University of Texas to begin practicing for the Texas High School Coaches Association's All-Star football game.
Rudd discovered the South squad included seven other linebackers and as a result, Rudd will start at defensive end in today's game, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
"I'm used to it and I've done it pretty much my whole life," Rudd said. "I figured I might as well play there one more time. It will be the last time so I want to make the best of it."
Rudd will be joined in the South's starting lineup by Shiner's Dylan Hagens, who will play right guard.
The head coach for the South squad will be Gregory-Portland's George Harris, who previously coached at Refugio.
Rudd played eight positions at Cuero - guard, center, tight end, defensive end, linebacker, fullback, wide receiver, and deep snapper - but will move to linebacker at the University of Houston, where he will begin working out Wednesday.
Rudd played mostly defensive end and tight end while helping to lead the Gobblers to the Class 3A, Division II semifinals last season. He had 57 tackles, including 32 solo stops, 28 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, one caused fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Rudd graded out as 98 percent as a blocker and had 23 pancake blocks and nine of his 18 receptions went for touchdowns. Rudd was selected as the MVP of the Advocate's all-area team and was a first-team pick on the Texas Sports Writers Association's all-state team.
"It's different," Rudd said of playing in the all-star game. "When I was a fan, I thought it was all about winning. But now that I'm here, I know it's about being with guys who are going to all these big schools and being a part of that with them."
Blitzing is not allowed in the all-star game so Rudd has had to adjust his approach to playing defensive end.
"He's familiar with it because he played there at Cuero but it's going to be tough for him because he can't blitz," said South defensive coordinator David McKinney, who previously coached at Refugio before moving to Gregory-Portland with Harris. "But he's quick and that should help him. He lost some weight to play linebacker. He's just going to have to get used to holding back."
The 6-foot-2 Rudd should be a lot quicker than he was last season, after dropping from 235 to 220 pounds to prepare for his college career.
"I've just been eating right," Rudd said. "I cut out junk food and sodas. I knew I would have to get lighter to play linebacker."
The 6-7, 270-pound Hagens played on the offensive line during his career at Shiner and will do so at Baylor. Hagens helped lead the Comanches to the Class 1A regional playoffs last season while grading out at 98 percent and recording 23 pancake blocks.
But Hagens is getting his first experience at playing in an offense that operates out of the shotgun and will frequently put the ball in the air.
"It's real different coming from a strictly run offense," Hagens said of blocking in Shiner's veer offense. "It's a lot quicker. But it's real good for me. It will get me used to playing with more speed."
Hagens suffered a setback when a defensive player fell on his left leg during the first day of practice but recovered in time to learn a starting position.
"It's been a little learning process for him," said offensive line coach Art Arguijo, the former Woodsboro head coach, who has now an assistant coach under Harris at Gregory-Portland. "He's used to firing off and driving people instead of pass blocking."
Hagens has no doubt what he's learned preparing for the all-star game and the competition he'll face in the game, will help him when he reports to Waco to begin working out at Baylor on Wednesday.
"I'm going to be doing a lot of pass blocking," Hagens said. "Definitely a lot of pass blocking."
NOTES: Former Schulenburg head football coach Brad Oden was a member of the selection committee for the South. Oden resigned after last season and had planned to teach at Schulenburg. But Oden has taken a position as an assistant coach at Rice Consolidated.
Charles Breithaupt, athletic director for the University Interscholastic League, said the Class 5A state championship football games will be played at 2 p.m., and 7 p.m., on Dec. 23 on the Alamodome in San Antonio. Breithaupt said holding the state championship games at a single site for the first time since 1921 will be a "historic moment for the UIL."
Breithaupt said all UIL coaches and officials are now required to participate in the Coaches and Officials Positive Experience (COPE) program either with a UIL staff member or a local administrator.
Breithaupt admitted the UIL has looked into a separate realignment and reclassification for football but said it is unlikely to occur anytime in the near future.
Will this game be shown on T.V. ?
Go get em J.T. !