Will Klein has embraced being one of the leaders for the Pea Ridge football team.
But then again, Klein really didn’t have much of a choice.
Pea Ridge is coming o◊its best season in a decade after the Blackhawks finished 10-2 last fall, and Klein is the lone returning starter from that team. That puts the 5’11”, 220-pound senior in the spotlight and Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis said that Klein has stepped up to the challenge.
“As the only returning starter, that role of a leader is going to be forced on you,” Travis said. “Will is going to be a leader because he is a solid player. Will leads by his actions more than anything else.”
Klein emerged as a leader in the o◊-season and that has carried over to 7-on-7 competition, which the Blackhawks are using to help fill out the depth chart.
“Will is here everyday, and he works hard in the weight room,” Travis said. “Will is going to be in a position to be a leader for us.”
Klein said that the entire senior class has been working hard since the end of last season.
“We have to replace a lot of players, but everybody in my grade and the grade below us is working hard everyday,” Klein said. “There is a little bit of weight on my shoulders to be a leader, but others are helping with it, too. This summer, we are working hard on our pass coverages and building team chemistry.”
Klein was a starter at linebacker his sophomore and junior seasons while seeing spot duty withthe o◊ense a year ago. When the 2013 season begins Sept. 6, Klein will never come o◊the fi eld.
In addition to starting at inside linebacker, Klein will also be the starting center while also handling all the kicking chores.
“Will is definitely our most experienced player,” Travis said.
“Will is going to do a lot for us.
Will is a strong kid, a powerful kid.”
Klein played part of his sophomore season with a shoulder injury and he played three games with a broken hand a year ago.
Klein said neither injury slowed down his game.
“It wasn’t much of a change, but the shoulder hurt a little more because of the contact,” Klein said.
The Blackhawks had 63 players finish spring drills, which is the biggest number in Travis’ fi ve seasons. Pea Ridge ended last season with 57 players in uniform.
Pea Ridge is currently playing two quarterbacks in 7-0n-7 competition as Trent Ramsey (5’6”, 143 lbs.) and Seth Brumley (6’3”, 190 lbs.) are the top candidates at quarterback. Brumley started as a sophomore last year at Quapaw, Okla., before moving to Pea Ridge after the football season. Brumley could also play defensive end.
“It’s a good situation because it creates competition,” Travis said.
“They are also both playing defense for us in 7-on-7 competition. But we have that going on at a lot of positions. We have a lot of guys battling for a starting position. I think we are going to be in a position to play a lot of kids this year.
That is going to be a strength for us this year.”
Sports, Pages 7 on 07/24/2013