Secondary will be young, talented
Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by Brian Porter in Varsity
There won’t be a starter returning to the Plano secondary this season and only two of the players taking first- or second-team snaps at defensive back are seniors.
“We’re getting better, but there are still things we need to work on,” said cornerback Blair Burns.
Going against what figures to be a speedy and capable receiving corps, both units have demonstrated an ability to fly to the ball and make plays in the early moments of preseason drills.
Kelton Reed (22) is one of two seniors taking first- or second-team snaps in the secondary. Also pictured is Taylor Meyers (29). (BigLouPhotos.com)
The belief in the capability of the players in the defensive secondary might be evidenced by one move made by the coaches this offseason. The only starter eligible to return was Jared Kirchmeier. He was moved to offense to help a backfield depleted by graduation.
“The starting secondary looks good,” said safety Collin Brence. “We have size. We’ve got a bunch of people who could step up at any time.”
Brence and Brandon McCalister are taking first-team snaps at safety, while Burns and Kelton Reed are the cornerbacks. Safeties Josh Benson and Brad Tipton and cornerbacks Austin Birdsall and Austin Hall have shown a knack for making plays on the second-team.
“I think that as the year goes on, we’ll get better and better as we get used to playing with each other,” Burns said. “The sky is the limit for us.”
Benson and Reed are seniors. The other six defensive backs are entering their junior seasons, making for a young secondary with room to grow.
That’s something the players have seen first hand in the offseason.
“Blair has gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” Brence said. “The sky really is the limit for him.”
Brence turned in one of the best performances on the team at the state 7-on-7 tournament. He made plays defensively in timely situations and then came in on the goal line to become a go-to guy on conversion passes.
He also has some history with the program. His brothers, Beau and Ryan, both started on defense for Plano. Ryan was also a safety. But he recalled another piece of tradition Saturday at the annual pancake breakfast and media day.
“I’m 16 and I must have been to the last 15 of these,” he said. “It’s weird because I get to be on campus this year.”
Six of the eight players taking first- or second-team snaps in the secondary haven’t yet attended a class on the Plano Senior High School campus. But, they’re quickly becoming seasoned outside the classroom.
