Big Elk star Metcalf commits to OBU

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Published on Tuesday, 21 February 2012 13:50

ECHS Senior Keegan Metcalf will play football for OBU

Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian 

An Elk City High School standout athlete is on his way to Shawnee, Okla., to play for the first football team there in seven decades.

Keegan Metcalf signed with Oklahoma Baptist University Friday. The Bison won't have a regular season opponent until 2013, but could play scrimmages before then.

The senior moved to Elk City from Hobart after his sophomore year and quickly made a name for himself. He started the 2011 season as a wide receiver. He then moved over to running back, while occasionally taking snaps in the unpredictable "wildcat" offense. He's a dual-threat talent who also lines up on defense as a middle-linebacker.

OBU coach Chris Jensen said Metcalf will probably start as a running back.

"He can do any number of things for us. As an offensive coach myself, I really like him as a running back but I'm having to debate my defensive coaches in the office about whether he'll play defense or offense," said Jensen. "Since I'm the head coach, I'll probably get to win that battle."

Jensen was hired only three weeks ago - the first football coach at the private university in 72 years. He said the most popular T-shirt seen on campus says, "Undefeated since 1940."

"We're flooded with information but he stood out because of his film," Jensen said of Metcalf. "We feel blessed that he signed with us."

Metcalf recognizes the history and excitement of playing on a new football team.

"I'm going to be in history, no matter what, even if I go out there and suck it up or if I go out there and do good, so I might as well make it great," he said.

For his part, Metcalf said he likes every aspect of carrying the ball, whether it's through a hole in the D-line, downfield on a perfect route or past the opposing team's quarterback after an interception.

"I like everything so hopefully I can get on defense, too," Metcalf said, adding that running with the ball was the most fun part of his high school games. "It didn't matter which way I got it. I just like running with the ball. It's fun."

He knows the college game is quicker and more intense. He'll have an extra year to prepare for it, though, and he's glad. It will also help him adjust to the college life. But the persistent athlete will continue working out; that's one of the reasons Metcalf caught Jensen's eye.

"Seeing him, physically, and how developed he is, you know he's not shy of the weight room," Jensen said.

Metcalf's parents were a strong influence on his career. Kent and Dee flanked their son at the signing ceremony and again later that night during a ceremony at a basketball game. They got him to where he was, Metcalf said.

"My dad, ever since I was maybe four years old, getting me in the floor, having me do pushups, jumpin' over stuff; just pushing me, making me work, making me cry," he said. "But it was definitely worth it. Made me tough."

Metcalf's stats and on-the-field awareness suggest he's a natural football talent. Kent said his son has a natural ability, but learned a lot about how to handle the ball from his teachers.

"I think his coaches would attest that he was pretty green in that area. I kind of think that the coaches had a lot to do with that, teaching him where to go and be ball smart," he said. "He's got a lot of natural athletic ability, but I think they had a lot to do with teaching him the game part of it."

With a real season still a year away, Metcalf is already getting ready.

"Once our football season ended, I knew it wasn't going to be my last game so I've been training ever since then," said Metcalf.

There won't be any shoes to fill in Shawnee. Keegan and his fellow first-year players get to make them.

"That's one of the things they talked about whenever I first visited. They said this class would be the leadership class," said Metcalf.

Jensen said his first priority is to recruit a freshman class. Then he'll start looking at upperclassmen to bring in.

"At OBU, we believe everything happens for a purpose and God has a plan. There's a reason why Keegan was still available when we started recruiting him," said Jensen. "And we believe God's going to do great things through him and through us, and we're really excited about the future."

While at OBU, Metcalf intends to major in chemical or biochemical engineering.