Nimitz Senior Guard Braden Whitehead Named Offensive Player of the Year – Northeast News

NORTH-EAST NEWS OFFENDER OF THE YEAR

Mike Keaney co-author

Nimitz High School freshman head football coach Cornelius Harmon did his homework before accepting the job last spring. He researched the team’s line-up, and once he discovered he had a hefty quarterback with two years of experience, he accepted the job. And senior quarterback Braden Whitehead.

As a senior, Whitehead threw for 2,389 yards with 157 passes and he threw for 28 touchdown passes. He also gained 121 more yards on the ground and scored four more points.

Whitehead helped the Cougars to a second straight playoff berth and win a six-game season. These efforts earned him the Northeast News Offensive Player of the Year award.

Harmon said that Whitehead definitely has talent, but he has a more important trait that a quarterback needs: leadership.

“Brayden is a damn good player,” Harmon said. “He is a true leader, a born leader. He was the bridge between me and the team. We talked daily and he shared with me how his teammates felt about the (coaches) change. It was good for me and the team.” Bryden definitely helped stabilize the situation. Our relationship was close.”

6-1, 215 lbs – three year old starter and flyer. He hopes to continue playing college football. He received offers from Midwest State at Wichita Falls, Navarro College, and other schools.

When Harmon was offensive coordinator at Summer Creek, he saw Whitehead play seven-on-seven tournaments over the summer. Watching him play seven-on-seven made Harmon’s decision easy when he was offered a job as head coach at Nimitz. “I knew he was coming back and I saw him compete with other teams in those seven-on-seven games. I had a pretty good idea of ​​who he was,” Harmon said.

Harmon said that Whitehead’s strength is in his strength and strong right hand. He needs to improve his time of 4.8 out of 40 to compete at the next level.

That’s why Whitehead, who loves watching Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Sundays, is ditching basketball in his senior season to focus on improving his speed.

“I need to get faster and more explosive,” Whitehead said.

He hopes that the treadmill this spring will help him improve his speed. Whitehead runs the 200 meters for the Nimitz track and field team.

Regarding his leadership qualities, Whitehead said he learned them from his parents.

“It comes from my parents,” he said. “They taught me to be a leader, not a follower, and follow my own path.”

When asked if he was looking forward to playing college football, Whitehead quickly replied, “Yes sir, without a doubt.”

And let’s hope he succeeds!