ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609190020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
One of the problems with football versatility is that once people know you have it, the more they expect you to do.
Pulaski County High linebacker Ryan Brockmeyer is a case study. Last year, the call went out for an inside linebacker for a four-backer set. Brockmeyer earned the job and then promptly went out and was in on a staggering 186 tackles. He also added five interceptions, which was tied for second on the team.
``The way we were set up, he had a hard job last year but he handled it well,'' said Pulaski County assistant coach Tommy Hale, who coaches the Cougars linebackers.
No need to let anybody start feeling comfortable and relaxed, especially a linebacker. Coaches generally like to see their linebackers as mean as 13 mothers-in-law. So next for Brockmeyer came a position switch to outside strong side linebacker this season. That was on top of the change to a 4-3 defense Cougars coach Joel Hicks had decreed in the offseason.
New job, new on the job training.
``Ryan has a knack for dropping on the ball [in passing coverage],'' Hale said. ``We wanted to put him outside so we could make that easier on him.''
Pass defense may be a little easier, but coming up with 186 tackles again could be a different matter.
``I'd like to get that many again,'' said Brockmeyer, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior. ``I don't know whether I'm going to have the chance, though. The defense we play this season is a lot more aggressive than the one we played last year. It isn't set up for the linebackers to make all the tackles like the one last year was.''
That doesn't mean that he can't try, though.
``In the first couple of games this year, I had about the same number as I had at this point last year,'' he said.
As for matching his interception total of a year ago, we'll see.
``The first two games, we didn't see that much passing,'' Hale said. ``But from now on, that should change.''
Right he was, starting the very next game. Salem's R.J. Beckwith airmailed balls all over Spartans Stadium as the home team was chewing up the Cougars 27-14. Beckwith completed 10 of 19 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
It was a long night for the Cougars, who absorbed their first defeat of the season to fall to 2-1. Brockmeyer stayed busy and played well. His most memorable stop was when he ran down Salem's Ricky Eubanks from behind at the Cougars 6 to save a touchdown. Eubanks had returned a punt 72 yards and seemed certain to score before Brockmeyer collared him.
Brockmeyer has received some recruiting interest from Stanford, South Carolina, Army and Richmond. Unofficially, he's visited South Carolina and Richmond. He intends to spend one of his official visits at Stanford.
``I hope I'll be playing college football somewhere next year,'' he said.
If nothing else, Brockmeyer, who has a 3.0 grade point average, has the academic credentials for college football eligibility.
``I think I'd like to go into law enforcement, maybe FBI or the Secret Service,'' he said. ``That sounds like it could be exciting.''
Excitement tends to keep Brockmeyer company, especially on a football field.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff This season, Ryan Brockmeyer switchedby CNBto outside strong side linebacker for the Pulaski County Cougars.
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