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Ev.o.lu.tion Southlake Carroll, once known for a fierce ground game in the Bob Ledbetter days, is the current gold standard for this new age approach under Todd Dodge. Art Briles’ Stephenville Yellowjackets carried the torch in the 90s. Of course, the changes in scheming on offense also have changed defenses and their reactions. Defenses must be faster to properly combat offenses that put more skill athletes on the field at once. In addition, defensive players are being forced to develop more advanced open field techniques due in large part to how offenses are using spacing, as noted above, to create favorable match-ups. Offenses aim to eliminate the pack mentality all defenses want to play with by putting them on islands. One of the major goals in any offense is to isolate and attack weak spots in a defense. Defenses must develop the more versatile players in order to avoid being exposed as offenses try to create more ways to beat them through more advanced alignments, personnel groupings and play designs. Versatility is the key word and an increasingly necessary talent for every football player. Of course, it’s always nice to have players who can play one position really well and that will never change. However, each year the profound impact all-purpose players can have on a team becomes increasingly evident. The all-purpose player is not a new concept in football by any means, but it’s now going to a new level in the high school ranks. More and more developmental resources are available to players in the form of football camps, speed camps and weight lifting programs among others. This allows more players to hone their physiques and techniques in a more efficient manner outside of what they do in their respective programs. South Grand Prairie’s Malcolm Williams set a new standard for all-purpose players last season. Williams was named as 5atexasfootball.com’s all-purpose MVP for his incredible senior year effort for the Warriors. Williams played running back, wide receiver and defensive back in addition to being an incredible kick coverage and return player. All-purpose talents like Williams can be what elevate a team to the next level. No team can have too many interchangeable parts, and those kind of players are such valued commodities because they can fill multiple roles on a team…the true x-factor. This type of player is becoming more prevalent in Texas high school football each season. These “X-Men” can be found across the state, and add an extra dimension to their team through the ability to play in multiple roles. Versatility is the new-age name of the game, and the following players turn up aces in that regard. Some of our top Class 5A X-Men to watch in 2006:
Max Blue, 6’0 200, Sr., Lewisville Hebron, TE-FB-LB-ST
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