Brian DeShane, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from Union High in Tulsa, Okla., had some mighty big shoes to fill this year as he stepped in for 2007 Army All-American and Notre Dame commitment Matt Romine.
It is always tough to lose that type of talent along the line, but DeShane has done an admirable job of filling the big man’s shoes and his play has helped pave the way for the Redskins 4-0 start.
“I learned so much from Matt,” DeShane said of the mentorship that the All-American provided. “He was an awesome teacher and just showed me the way I could become successful.”
“I try to incorporate that to all of my teammates and we try to get the best out of everyone every snap of the game and in every practice.”
Union offensive line coach Mark Garner has been highly regarded as one of the best line coaches in the area, and DeShane is thankful that he has had the opportunity to play under his tutelage.
“Coach Garner is the reason that we are undefeated,” DeShane said of the value he adds to the Union coaching staff. “He pushes us every day to get the best out of us and he is an awesome, awesome person. If you do not get it right he will definitely let you know.”
DeShane is interested in many programs in the Big 12 like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Nebraska, but it is the hometown Tulsa Golden Hurricane that has taken the most proactive approach.
“The University of Tulsa is interested in me and I am really interested in them,” DeShane began. “I went to the TU Vs. BYU game and got to go through the whole recruiting thing before the game and I got to meet the coaches.”
“It was an awesome experience. Just to be considered as a division one athlete is pretty cool. They were throwing the ball back and forth. It was exciting from the very first snap until the very last snap.”
Former Union Head Coach Bill Blankenship is now an assistant coach at Tulsa, and DeShane said it is comforting having someone that is so close to the Union family at the University
“It is real nice to just have a familiar face and being able to know Coach Blankenship,” DeShane explained. “It is real cool having someone that you know and that you can talk to about everything.”
“I grew up wanting to play for him and I really did not get that chance, but its is great playing for Coach ‘Fred’ (Current Union Coach Kirk Fridrich).”
DeShane is 100 percent open within the recruiting process at this time, but admits that it would be nice to play close to home.
“I am definitely interested in Tulsa,” DeShane said. “Hopefully I get some interest from OU and OSU. I have not really gone out of state or anything (to look at other programs).”
“It would be kind of nice to stay close to home and playing in the Big 12 and everything like that, but obviously if the out of state teams are interested than I will definitely consider them.”
Stay with Scout.com as it is only a matter of time before DeShane starts to reel in division one scholarship offers.