Calumet: Man in the middle

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM

Thomas Brown is a big fan of Ndamukong Suh, which makes sense because they play the same position and Brown’s coach and Suh share an alma mater.

But what Brown says about Suh, the Detroit Lions’ defensive tackle, could just as well apply to the Calumet senior.

“I’ve been watching him since he was at Nebraska,” Brown said, praising “his energy, his relentlessness, the way he beats double-teams and triple-teams and gets after the quarterback. He motivates his team.”

It’s safe to say Brown does the same for the Warriors, even if he’s not a vocal guy. The 6-foot-2, 313-pounder is a dominating presence on the field and looks to be playing on Saturdays next season.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the state,” Zimmer said. “He’s got to prove it on the field, (but) he’s been offered by Eastern Michigan and been recommended to be in the Army (national) all-star game. The ball’s in his court. He went to a camp with the top 12 linemen in the country and I can’t wait to see the video.”

Brown was a force last year, when he graded out at 95.7 percent as an offensive lineman and put up big numbers on defense: 57 total tackles, 23 solos, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.

But he wasn’t satisfied.

“Defensively, I want to get better on pass rushes, get t the quarterback a little bit faster,” he said.

For a big man, Brown is exceptionally agile. It doesn’t hurt that he plays basketball in the winter and makes sure he’s in shape for what figures to be another grueling fall of playing both ways and then some.

“I’m pretty (well) conditioned,” Brown said. “I did the same thing last year. I only came off the field on kickoffs. … I’ve got to work hard to stay in shape, make sure I stay healthy.”

Indeed, Brown is athletic enough to be the Warriors’ punter — he averaged 32 yards a kick last season with a long of 40 — and also to have blocked six kicks in 2010.

Brown is one of the veterans on a young team coming off a 3-7 season.

But he’s upbeat about the Warriors’ chances of turning things around this fall.

“Last year we got pretty banged up,” he said. “We’re looking to stay healthy this year.”

The good feelings started months ago: “Ever since we started offseason workouts, we’ve had great communication with the middle school, getting the freshmen up here,” he said.

And through it all, Brown is the man in the mddle, he said, "just being a leader, being responsible, making sure everybody gets here and works hard as a team."

Coach

Ivan Zimmer

record

At school: 49-83 (14th year)

Overall: 123-152 (28th year)

Last season

Lost 41-6 to John Glenn
in sectional opener

Key returnees

OL/DL Thomas Brown

RB Marquis Carlton

OL/DL Marquan Manuel

RB/LB Noah Fowler

Key Losses

RB/LB Chuck Carter

RB Chakese Whitfield

College prospects

OL/DL Thomas Brown
(offered by Eastern Michigan)

Season outlook

After posting back-to-back winning records in 2008 and ’09 (the first such stretch since a three-year run from 1965-67), the Warriors endured a frustrating 2010 season. They were 3-7 with four losses by 10 points or fewer, and whether they get back over .500 depends in large part on how quickly some talented youngsters develop. Thomas Brown (6-2, 313), a senior who already has one Division I scholarship offer from Eastern Michigan, will anchor both lines. The Manuel brothers, senior Marquan (5-10, 315) and sophomore Marshawn (5-10, 290), also are capable of causing havoc up front. Senior Marquise Carlton (5-5, 170) shows promise as a runner and classmate Donte Collins (6-0, 180) is the front-runner at quarterback. Two pluses: team speed and conditioning. “I think we had a better summer conditioning program than we’ve had maybe ever,” coach Ivan Zimmer said. “The kids are in better shape. Instead of conditioning, you’re out here learning football.”

Postseason

Class 3A Sectional 17 (Calumet, Culver Academies, Lew Wallace, John Glenn, Gavit. Knox, Mishawaka Marian, South Bend St. Joseph)

Schedule

Aug. 19 Gavit

Aug. 26 at Clark

Sept. 2 North Newton

Sept. 9 at River Forest

Sept. 16 Lake Station

Sept. 23 Bishop Noll

Sept. 30 at Whiting

Oct. 7 at South Central

Oct. 14 Wheeler

HISTORY LESSON

Season Record

2001 6-4, 3-2

2002 1-9, 0-6

2003 2-8, 1-6

2004 2-8, 2-5

2005 4-6, 4-3

2006 3-8, 2-5

2007 5-6, 3-4

2008 7-3, 6-1

2009 6-4, 5-2

2010 4-6, 3-4

Sectional titles: None

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

1 Duke Bush 6-0 155 12 DB/WR

2 Marquis Carlton 5-5 170 12 DB/WR

5 Lamberto Garcia 5-8 150 9 DB/WR

6 Gabriel Carmona 5-9 165 12 DB/WR

7 Raymond Word 5-10 155 12 DB/WR

8 Donte Collins 6-0 180 12 DB/QB

9 Brett Garner 5-8 130 10 DB/WR

10 Noah Fowler 5-8 180 10 LB/RB

12 George Price 5-9 155 9 DB/WR

13 Clifton Ratney 5-9 175 11 OL/DL

14 Martin Estrada 5-9 125 9 DB/WR

15 Aaron Wallace 6-0 160 9 DB/WR

20 Kyle Hubbard 5-10 150 9 LB/QB

22 Joshua Kielminski 5-10 142 10 DB/QB

24 Jeffery Reed 5-8 140 9 DB/WR

29 James Adams 5-8 175 11 DB/RB

32 Nick Fowler 6-0 165 9 LB/WR

35 William Figueroa 5-5 155 10 DB/RB

36 Tim Lowe 5-8 211 12 NA

41 Kenny Calvilla 5-9 175 11 LB/RB

44 Alllen Thomas 5-8 138 9 DB/WR

50 Marquan Manuel 5-10 215 12 OL/DL

54 Destin Tuggle 5-8 210 12 OL/DL

55 Jeff Huff 5-8 170 9 DB/WR

56 Jason Novosel 5-9 210 10 OL/DL

60 Frank Rixie 5-10 240 12 OL/DL

62 Bryce Washington 5-10 250 9 OL/DL

63 David Williams 5-10 185 9 LB/RB

66 Tyler Webb 5-10 200 9 OL/DL

67 John Jones 5-10 180 9 OL/DL

70 Jose Rodriquez 5-10 275 12 OL/DL

72 Thomas Brown 6-2 313 12 OL/DL

73 Devin Ricks 6-2 230 12 OL/DL

77 Terrance Bailey 6-0 235 11 OL/DL

78 Dakota Humphries 6-0 250 9 OL/DL

79 Marshawn Manuel 5-10 290 10 OL/DL

85 Jarrett Fisher 5-10 180 10 LB/TE

87 Georgio Harrell 5-9 210 10 OL/DL

99 Brandon Lolkema 6-0 205 10 OL/DL

NA Vaughn Lubarski 5-10 160 12 LB/RB

NA Christian Arocho 5-11 205 12 OL/DL

NA Doriante Bryant 5-4 155 10 DB/RB

NA Robert Kadisak 5-11 215 10 OL/DL

NA Michael Frost 5-9 155 9 DB/WR

NA Miguel Rodriguez 5-8 140 9 DB/WR

NA Richard Stately 5-9 140 9 DB/WR

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.