02-20-2012, 09:28 AM
Somerset â While football coaches certainly take notice of a playerâs time in the 40, or the reps done in the weight room, there are certain intangibles that some players just have that coaches canât teach.
Call it a knack of always being in the right place at the right time, or having a nose for the football, or whatever you want to call it, but some players just have âitâ.
That is exactly one of the things that Pulaski Countyâs Curtis Spears brought to the table for coach Johnny Hines and the Maroons over the past few seasons.
The âitâ factor was something that Spears had, and he displayed it every Friday night when the Maroons teed it up on the gridiron.
Undersized in todayâs world of big and powerful lineman, Spears excelled at PC as both an offensive lineman and linebacker, and that is why he will have a chance to play at the next level.
Earlier this week Spears signed with The University of the Cumberlands, and for the PC senior, it was the culmination of a day he had been dreaming about ever since he was a kid when he first put on a helmet and a pair of shoulder pads.
â This opportunity is really more than I can put into words â Iâve been looking forward to this day ever since I was a little kid,â stated Spears.
âI havenât really been told where theyâre going to play me or what side of the ball they want me on, but wherever they put me will be whatâs best for the team,â Spears added.
As for the decision to take his game to the Patriots, Spears said The University of the Cumberlands was definitely the place for him.
âItâs a nice school, and itâs a Christian school and I was looking for a place to go where I could better myself as a student-athlete, as well as a Christian,â Spears remarked.
Spears had a solid 2011 season last fall for the Maroons on both sides of the football.
He recorded a total of 83 tackles at his linebacker position, as well as recovering three fumbles.
On the offensive line, he filled in just about everywhere for Pulaski County. However, he made his mark as PCâs center, giving quarterback Aaron Smith a perfect snap after snap, while the Maroons were lined up in the shotgun formation for virtually the entire season.
As expected, coach Johnny Hines was very happy to see Spears get the opportunity to take his game to the collegiate level.
âIâm really proud of Curtis and Iâm really happy for him,â stated the PC head coach.
âWe used Curtis literally, at every position on our offensive line,â said Hines. âHe could play center, he could play guard, and he even lined up at tackle a couple different times. âWe even lined him up in the backfield as a lead blocker a few times â he was just a utility guy.â
Despite that versatility on the offensive line displayed by Spears, Hines says he firmly believes that at the collegiate level, Spears will make his mark on the Patriots football program on the defensive side of the football.
âCurtis forte´ is at the linebacker position,â said Hines. âHeâs a very aggressive player, heâs a good, solid tackler, and heâs just got a nose for the football. He diagnoses the offensive play very quickly, he takes intelligent pursuit angles to the ball â heâs got a lot of things going for him that a lot of young linebackers donât learn that well in high school. Itâs going to be a lot of fun to see him have this opportunity.â
âThe University of the Cumberlands has an outstanding program and they are an outstanding university, so Iâm really glad to see Curtis get this opportunity that most high school football players can only dream of,â added the PC head coach.
http://somerset-kentucky.com/localsports...umberlands
Call it a knack of always being in the right place at the right time, or having a nose for the football, or whatever you want to call it, but some players just have âitâ.
That is exactly one of the things that Pulaski Countyâs Curtis Spears brought to the table for coach Johnny Hines and the Maroons over the past few seasons.
The âitâ factor was something that Spears had, and he displayed it every Friday night when the Maroons teed it up on the gridiron.
Undersized in todayâs world of big and powerful lineman, Spears excelled at PC as both an offensive lineman and linebacker, and that is why he will have a chance to play at the next level.
Earlier this week Spears signed with The University of the Cumberlands, and for the PC senior, it was the culmination of a day he had been dreaming about ever since he was a kid when he first put on a helmet and a pair of shoulder pads.
â This opportunity is really more than I can put into words â Iâve been looking forward to this day ever since I was a little kid,â stated Spears.
âI havenât really been told where theyâre going to play me or what side of the ball they want me on, but wherever they put me will be whatâs best for the team,â Spears added.
As for the decision to take his game to the Patriots, Spears said The University of the Cumberlands was definitely the place for him.
âItâs a nice school, and itâs a Christian school and I was looking for a place to go where I could better myself as a student-athlete, as well as a Christian,â Spears remarked.
Spears had a solid 2011 season last fall for the Maroons on both sides of the football.
He recorded a total of 83 tackles at his linebacker position, as well as recovering three fumbles.
On the offensive line, he filled in just about everywhere for Pulaski County. However, he made his mark as PCâs center, giving quarterback Aaron Smith a perfect snap after snap, while the Maroons were lined up in the shotgun formation for virtually the entire season.
As expected, coach Johnny Hines was very happy to see Spears get the opportunity to take his game to the collegiate level.
âIâm really proud of Curtis and Iâm really happy for him,â stated the PC head coach.
âWe used Curtis literally, at every position on our offensive line,â said Hines. âHe could play center, he could play guard, and he even lined up at tackle a couple different times. âWe even lined him up in the backfield as a lead blocker a few times â he was just a utility guy.â
Despite that versatility on the offensive line displayed by Spears, Hines says he firmly believes that at the collegiate level, Spears will make his mark on the Patriots football program on the defensive side of the football.
âCurtis forte´ is at the linebacker position,â said Hines. âHeâs a very aggressive player, heâs a good, solid tackler, and heâs just got a nose for the football. He diagnoses the offensive play very quickly, he takes intelligent pursuit angles to the ball â heâs got a lot of things going for him that a lot of young linebackers donât learn that well in high school. Itâs going to be a lot of fun to see him have this opportunity.â
âThe University of the Cumberlands has an outstanding program and they are an outstanding university, so Iâm really glad to see Curtis get this opportunity that most high school football players can only dream of,â added the PC head coach.
http://somerset-kentucky.com/localsports...umberlands
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