Texas Football

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football  --  Trojans' horse poised to continue 2009's breakthrough performance.

Braxton Bearden has a job to do.

Multiple jobs, in fact. As a slot receiver, he has to brave the middle of the field, find the sticks and manufacture yards after the catch. As a runner, he has to bang out the tough downs and keep the defense spread out with his speed and elusiveness. As a safety, he has to support the front seven while serving as the last line of defense against the pass. 

And all while providing the kind of leadership in the locker room that the new-age Trojans need. Doesn't exactly leave time for hobbies.

Bearden enters his senor season as the both the top dog and the top offensive threat — he'll play primarily at slot receiver and safety, but he'll also rotate through the backfield to help diversify an attack that dazzled opponents a year ago. And with WR Al Lasker and RB Randall Joyner now both off to college football, he'll have plenty of opportunities to get his hands on the ball in all three capacities.

A year ago, Bearden finished with 193 rushing yards and 2 TDs (on 41 carries) and 398 receiving yards and 5 TDs (on 37 catches). But now that he's the main weapon, he could easily double both sets of numbers — 600 rushing yards is possible, as is 1,000 receiving yards and 15 combined touchdowns. And wouldn't that be something for a guy that's been playing second fiddle for the past two years?

Newman Smith coach Paul Ressa isn't the only one who's noticed his talent, either. Local colleges are knocking on the door, and UTEP has already extended an offer. SMU is hopefully close behind. And Big 12 schools haven't been shy about inquiring. Will he play slot? Will he play running back? Will he play corner? Tough to tell right now, and truth is he could probably do any of the three.  

"He's an athlete. UTEP actually loved him at corner," Ressa said. "Anyone that can run that 4.3, at anything taller than 5-9, 5-10, is huge at the corner. He's kind of like a Randall (Joyner), who was a tremendous high school running back ... He could even a fullback or an I-back in college."

Ressa also said that Bearden is highly representative of the growing class of athletes that make their living out in open space. Newman Smith isn't used to many of those types, but with more kids coming out to play ball every year, it's giving the staff a chance to move their best athletes, like Bearden, to offense. 

Regardless of where he ends up, he's got more than enough to keep him focused now. And beyond just his individual performance, the team itself has much to prove heading into 2010. Ressa said people have called his program a one-hit wonder, a fluke ... the very thing that every coach hates to hear and loves to prove wrong. So even though the Trojans are forging into "uncharted territory," as Ressa calls it, a coaching staff that remains completely intact from '09 and a dedicated crop of athletes has this program set for the future. And kids like Bearden are a big part of it. 

"The good thing about Newman Smith right now is that we can go out on the field and the kids know the expectations of school, and practice and everything," Ressa said. "Without needing to be told.  They know the tempo of practice. They know what needs to be done and they do it."

Looks like Bearden isn't the only one who knows he has a job to do — sounds like everyone else knows their role, too.