When East Webster drops back this season to throw the football, it’s a good chance that quarterback Steven Betts will be looking for Conner Shurden.
Shurden is the top returning receiver for the Wolverines this season, making him one of the Choctaw Plaindealer/Webster Progress Times Eleven To Watch in 2019. Previously announced were Israel Whitmore and Tylan Carter of Choctaw County High School, Parker Burleson of East Webster and M.J. Thomas of Eupora.
Shurden had a team-high 34 catches last season for 552 yards and also led the team with eight touchdown receptions.
Head coach Ron Price said Shurden never ceases to amaze him with the things he does on the football field, despite his lack of “measurables”.
“Conner is just one of those kids that every Friday night he amazes me with the things that he’s able to do,” Price said. “He doesn’t run a 4.3 (40-yard dash). He’s not 6-foot-3. He’s not 225 pounds but when those lights come on Friday night, that kid gives you every thing he’s got and he’s made some unbelievable plays for us in the past.”
Price said with Keevon Patterson (30 catches, 615 yards, 7 TDs) gone from the receiving corps, Shurden will likely be a big focus of the passing game this season.
“We hope to get him the ball a good bit this year but hope that teams can’t just focus on him and take him completely out of the game,” Price said. “So one of the things that I have challenged him to do this summer is to get the other receivers ready and help our quarterback get comfortable throwing to other receivers so that it will help him be productive and be able to continue to do the things he has done.”
When thrown the ball, Price said Shurden gives everything he has to come down with the catch. Last year, Shurden had a season high 103 yards on three catches vs. J.Z. George and had a season high eight catches against Ray Brooks.
“It is just amazing some of the catches that he’s made, the effort that he gives.” Price said. “He plays as hard as he can every single play. I just hope that he can stay healthy this fall and continue to put up big numbers for us.”
Because of his athletic ability, Price said Shurden will be forced to play on defense as well, likely at one of the two safety positions. Last year, Shurden had 39 tackles on defense.
“He’s a guy we know we can depend on,” Price said. “Going into the spring, we had a list of guys that we had penciled in at safety and by the end of the spring, all three of those guys were gone, either not playing or at another position. So Conner is going to have to play at safety for us. Conner is a guy that’s got a really good football IQ. He’s got a knack for the football. He’s going to have to play a lot of offense and a lot of defense and he’s buying into that mindset for us.”
Shurden stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 165 pounds. Shurden said he ran 4.6 in the 40-yard dash as a sophomore but feels like he has gotten faster since then. Price believes Shurden is capable of playing at the next level but still has work to do on that front.
“He wants to play somewhere,” Price said. “To get to the next level, he’s going to have to earn that opportunity. He’s going to have to get a coach to recognize the effort that he gives, the little things that he does right. He has great hands and he’s going to have to run outstanding routes. He’s going to have to do everything right and somebody will take a chance on him. I hope by the way that he plays and the effort that he plays with, he may get somebody’s attention and they may give him that opportunity to play at the next level.”
Shurden knows he will have to be more of a leader as he enters his senior season.
“I’m just trying to be a good leader fo the skill guys on offense,” Shurden said. “I try to do my part on the skill guys. I consider all of our skill guys pretty good so I don’t know who will get the ball. It will be whoever is open and what the defense is giving us. I’d say I am one of the leaders on offense of the skill guys and on defense. The linebackers call out what they do but I have to call out the coverage and where everybody needs to be. If we need to move somebody around, I’m the guy that does that. I’m the guy that sees everything.”
Shurden was also on the track team last year as he competed in the high jump and long jump and also ran the 200-meter dash. He also played on the baseball team his freshman and sophomore season but decided to concentrate on football .
Shurden said if he doesn’t get recruited to play football, he wants to go to Mississippi State and pursue a degree in either civil or mechanical engineering. He’s already made a 19 on the ACT but “hopes to improve that number.”
“Again, he’s not the most athletic kid in the world so he understands he has to win the battle by doing things the right way,” Price said. “He’s truly trying to be a leader and get us lined up correctly and encourage the other guys. So hopefully, he understands now what his role is.”
Price said Shurden is one of the seniors committed to getting East Webster back to winning football games.
