Somewhere in the middle of East Webster’s spring football game, lineman Caleb Massey realized something. The rising senior recognized he wasn’t in the shape that he needed to be in since he was starting on the offensive line and also playing on the defensive side of the ball.
Massey, the latest addition to the Choctaw Plaindealer/Webster Progress Times Eleven To Watch for 2019, said he’s going to get that straightened out.
“I think the main thing for me right now is conditioning,” Massey said. “In that spring game, I wasn’t in the shape that I needed to be. I’m getting on that. I’m running every day and hitting the bag at home. I realized I have to be in better shape by the time we get to the season.”
Already named to the Eleven To Watch list along side Massey are: Parker Burleson and Conner Shurden of East Webster; M.J. Thomas and Deunte Wilson of Eupora; and Israel Whitmore, Tylan Carter, and Calvin Talley of Choctaw County High School.
East Webster head coach Ron Price is putting a lot on the broad shoulders of Massey, who stands at 6-foot-1 and weighs 260 pounds.
“For us, Caleb is one of our two returning offensive lineman,” Price said. “Caleb is capable of playing any of the five spots on the offensive line. Coach Haynes has moved him to different spots on the line in the spring. Right now, he is our right guard. He is tough and gritty and has a good football mind.”
Not only is Massey capable of playing any position on the line, Price said Massey has taken on a big leadership role among the linemen.
“We are expecting him to be one of the leaders on the offensive line,” Price said. “He is one of the kids on the team that everybody on the team listens to and respects. He works hard and is always in the weight room and always gives 110 percent. When other kids see him working, it helps them to work hard. He is just one of those kids that is a natural leader. He is able to kind of put people in their place when he has to and the team respects and listens to him.”
Massey realizes what his role is going to be this season for the Wolverines.
“I think I’m one of the major leaders on this team,” Massey said. “I’m just trying to keep the team together. We have just got two returning starters on the offensive lineman. It’s more teaching right now. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. We have to get stronger and keep on grinding.”
Not only is Price having to start on the offensive line, he’s also going to have to get plenty of reps on the defensive line.”
“He is going to have to go over and play on the defensive line for us this year, a lot more than he did last year,” Price said. “But he is the kind of kid, he realizes that he is not in shape and for him to give us the reps that we need from him offensively and defensively, he has to get in better shape and he’s committed to doing that this summer. He will get to where he needs to be. He is a true senior leader and hopefully that will make some new offensive linemen move in the direction that they need to go. He will push them to have them ready for that first Friday night in August.”
Going into the spring, Price said the gold were clear.
“Our main goal going into spring practice was to find five offensive lineman that we felt comfortable with going into the season, that we could line up with and run the football behind,” Price said. “That’s one thing we worked on this spring was running the football. We felt good about it and still have some things we have to clean up. Some guys that are learning their position and after 15 days of spring practice and a spring game, we feel good about that group the we had had out there this spring.”
Price said he was proud of the way that Massey helped and pushed his younger teammates.
“It’s going to be Caleb’s job to keep pushing them and teaching them,” Price said. “He has a way of pushing and correcting them. He has been constantly coaching and correcting those guys to tell them what they did wrong and that’s what we need from our players. The players will listen to him instead of the coach barking at them all the time so we are thankful that he is that kind of kid and will keep moving the offensive line in that direction.”
Massey said he has talked with some college coaches from Delta State, Alcorn State, East Central and East Mississippi but doesn’t have any offers. He said he would like the opportunity to play at the next level and Price said Massey needs to have a good season on the field.
“Caleb is going to earn an opportunity off of his effort and his play,” Price said. “He’s a little short and probably not as fast as they want him to be. I hope by the way he performs and plays this fall that somebody will give him the opportunity. He definitely has the ability to play at the junior college level. It’s just his height. Nobody is going to jump at him because of his height but he has the ability to play all five positions on the offensive line. I hope that he gets the opportunity to play somewhere. He just wants an opportunity to play somewhere at the next level and he means that.”
Massey said he hopes that he versatility will help him when it comes to recruiting.
“They have got me playing everywhere on the line,” Massey said. “Left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle. I can play nose, defensive tackle, defensive end, one tech, three tech. I like defense end but I like offense better. I like right guard and right tackle, just getting to manhandle somebody I guess. I like getting those pancakes. I pancaked a safety from Eupora on a screen play last year. That was probably the best day of my life.”
Price said it’s possible that the time on defense could also help Massey’s case to college coaches.
“He could play defense at the next level but he understand that here, we have to play him on the offensive line for us to be successful,” Price said. "And he has bought into that. He understand that he is going to have to play a lot more defense this year. By the end of the year, he may be a better defensive player than he is an offensive season. He understands what his role is and kids like that you want to see them get the opportunity to play and be rewarded for all of the hard work that hey have put in.”
Massey said he benches 275 pounds, squats 250 pounds and power cleans 250 as well. Massey has a 3.2 GPA and has made an 18 on the ACT. Massey said he would like to major in business when he gets to college.
Massey said he currently works at Sonic Drive In where he “flips burgers.” When not working or playing sports, Massey said he like to hunt, especially dove hunting.
