It’s not often a player goes from being an offensive lineman to quarterback.
The last time North White coach Jim Davis can remember it happening was more than two decades ago.
It was D.J. Hileman who made the move. Now, his son Tyler is the tough guy making the switch.
“It’s an unusual switch,” Davis said of a player moving from the line to under center. “It’s kind of funny that it was his dad who was the only other player to make that move.”
That says something about the Hileman family. D.J. was the very first to lead Davis’ team at QB. There was a large gap until D.J.’s son Dustin came around but Davis was still at North White.
“Yeah, pretty much so,” Davis said to the Hileman’s being his quarterback family.
During Dustin’s time, the Vikings experienced a fair amount of success and were able to air it out because of Dustin’s arm. Now, with Tyler, who’s a junior, the offense has changed a bit. It’s not a pass first, run second team as it was with Dustin.
“We’re not going to ask him to throw the ball 25 times like we did with his brother,” Davis said.
The different quarterbacking styles have helped Tyler’s transition into the position. Because Tyler’s a runner, he’s not being compared to how Dustin threw the ball all the time.
“Dustin told me ‘You and me are different,’” Tyler said. “It’s a lot easier because I’m just trying to work on what I can be better at. I’m a different player.”
Dustin didn’t lack aggressiveness but Tyler volunteered to play on the line just to see the field as a sophomore. It’s obvious the two operate with a different mindset on the playing field.
“That’s really the kind of kid he is,” Davis said about Tyler’s willingness to play offensive line last season. “That’s what he’s willing to do.”
Tyler admits the position change made him tougher. But the move back to QB hasn’t been easy for Tyler. He’s spent a lot of time regaining his throwing routines and relearning the position.
“It’s been a hard process,” Tyler said. “But it’s going really well. I feel like I’m improving and the team’s improving every day.”
Tyler better hope for improvement because North White coaches have talked about moving him back to the line if his performance is sub-par. It’s all in fun, of course.
“He’s just a good kid,” Davis said. “He’s going to do whatever. He’s not your pre-Madonna quarterback kid.”
Davis and North White are hoping he continues his development this week against Tri-County on Friday.
Published in the Herald Journal in August 2009.
