One definition of the word “theater” is “…a building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given.” Todd County’s football stadium, this coming Fall, is certainly an outdoor area in which dramatic performances will be seen. We hope Elkton, Guthrie, and Trenton are ready. Those performances are not too far from debut.
There’s a buzz around Elkton, Kentucky one can feel from the L & R Soda Bar clear across the square to The Diner. The buzz has been created by Coach Darell Keith as his, soon to be, second edition of the Todd County Rebels prepares to embark on what many believe will be a historic season.
Some of the excitement has been created by the fact that, in his second year at the helm, he has a lot of talent back from a team which won 5 games a year ago. Chief among the talent returning is a player Keith affectionately calls, “The Big Show.”
Those of us who have been around Kentucky middle or high school football are pretty accustomed to Keith and his nicknames. Keith is colorful, popular, and his kids love him. He has penchant for coming up with nicknames and has one for most of his players. As for this particular nickname for Justin Waldrop, KPGFootball must exclaim it to be quite apt.
Justin is 6-2 and weighs a well put together 340-pounds. One may inquire what we mean by that. Players who actually weigh less than they look are called “sloppy” and coaches consider that, universally, to be “bad weight.” However players who are well put together tend to weigh more than you would expect. The Big Show looks to weigh between 295 and 310, tops…but actually weighs 340. He carries the weight well.
Further proof of how well he wears 340-pounds, Waldrop is a 330-pound bench presser who runs the 40-yard dash in 5.9 seconds and shuttles in the mid 5’s. That is moving for a guy of his heft.
Waldrop, a Class of 2020 prospect, plays RT on offense and anywhere from DT to NG defensively. Waldrop is difficult to dig out of an A-gap.
We have even seen film of The Big Show aligning in the backfield and leading plays from full-back. How does one spell aye yi yi? Imagine being a LB charged with coming up and meeting 340-pounds of “Big Show” in the hole. Talk about your headaches.
KPGFootball has been to practice for a few days watching the Rebels since the Rebels opened camp. We have a news flash for anyone interested. The Rebels are a well-drilled, disciplined, imposing group of football players who are in year two of Keith’s system. They are flying around as opposed to appearing lost or confused. They are exceedingly well coached.
We predict they will be a problem for any team encountered on its schedule. That may be one of the all-time understatements ever published.
Chief among the possible headaches presented by the 2019 Rebel horde is the fact they are way improved in the trenches. Additionally, Todd’s 340-pounds of granite at RT is, to plainly state it, way more athletic than anyone would have any reason to expect.
Justin Waldrop is a college football player. Exactly at what level and where will be largely dependent on how he continues to develop and what kind of grades and scores he has academically. The talent, frame, aggression, and ability to play physically is all on-hand in seemingly copious abundance.
So, grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for “The Big Show.” If taken lightly, this version of the Rebels could easily morph into a Class 2A, District 2 horror show, at least for those teams which get in its way.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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