As the Friday night lights beam on the field, the crowd chants the name of their star wide receiver. Senior Devin McGill catches a deep pass and runs it to the endzone for a touchdown.
“Devin is such a great leader because he leads by example. He does the little things right,” head coach James Yeager said. “[If there’s] anything we need him to do, he prepares and gets the job done.”
Since Devin is in his third year as a starting varsity player, he often faces pressure and scrutiny; however, he still manages to play to the best of his abilities.
“The best way I handle stress on the field is to stay calm and focus on breathing,” Devin said. “I also think of how being stressed during a game can affect my team.”
Since Devin has played football from a young age, he has heard some lessons that he will keep throughout his journey.
“I’ve learned many things during my football career so far, such as: being coachable goes a long way,” Devin said. “Always having a positive attitude and mindset will not only help me improve as an athlete but help others around me as well.”
According to Yeager, Devin has improved significantly since his freshman year.
“The main thing I feel [he] has improved on is his consistency on offense and his physicality on defense. He has prepared physically and mentally for this season, and it is already showing,” Yeager said.
Other players on the team look up to him for being such a reliable player. There are currently eight schools at both the Division II and Division III levels that have offered Devin a chance to continue playing football in college.
“I look up to Devin because he is really good at the sport. I can always go to him if I need advice on how to improve my skills,” junior Jamarie Sanders said. “Off the field, I can always count on him to encourage me in the weight room.”
Devin spends the majority of his time with the quarterback Noah Colon. Since Devin is a wide receiver, these two contribute often with Noah passing the ball to Devin so he can score a touchdown.
“He is a great leader on the field and makes sure everyone is ready and prepared. I have noticed better route running, and I am seeing him become more vocal when it comes to encouraging the team,” Noah said.
This year being his last in the high school league, he plans to make it one of his best.
“I hope to provide the team leadership and be a role model for those freshmen and sophomores who need to look up to someone,” Devin said. “I would like to be remembered as someone that everyone will miss not because I’m a good football player but because I am a good teammate and friend.”
