Page 166 of Never Say Never
The first day is filled with meetings and basic physical tests, so Ty’s safe for now. The real work starts on day two.
Johnson and I have been meeting up to practice a few times a week since we returned from Oregon, so once we start drills on the field the second day, it feels natural.
His play calls, familiar. My recall of the routes, innate.
It’s fucking awesome to be confident and not doubtful anymore.
And now the coaches see it too.
We still aren’t wearing full pads, and the drills aren’t representative of real play yet. But I come off the field proud that I don’t miss a single catch thrown my way.
“Great job, Rawley,” Coach Houston says as I walk by him.
After lunch, Coach Allen pulls me aside. “Excellent execution today. Keep on it.”
My chest swells. “Thanks.”
“Coach Houston wants me to get you more reps, so while the starters are done for a couple hours, I’m going to have you outside with Tony and the second team.” Tony is Johnson’s backup quarterback.
“Sure, sounds great.”
I won’t say I’m nervous, but it’ll be a little different without Johnson. We’ve developed a comfort level with each other.
Man up, Rawls. It’s a good test of everything you’ve worked on.
I try to keep that mindset as I walk on the field.
“Hey, Battle,” Tony says as I come toward him. “Excited to see what we can do together.”
“Me too.”
He looks around before talking to his center. “Do we have everyone?”
“Just waiting for the running back.”
And fuck if none other than Nate jogs out to join us.
He’s good enough to practice with the second team? Crap, he may make the final squad, be a teammate.
“Nate the Great reporting in, sorry about that.”
Tony looks unimpressed.
“Okay, let’s get on the field. The defensive guys are already out there.”
Once we’re in position, Tony calls the play, and it’s one I remember without any trouble.
But when I run the route, Tony doesn’t anticipate my speed accurately, and the ball is located too far behind me to catch. It ends up bouncing on the ground toward the sidelines.
“Shit, my bad, Battle,” Tony says with a nod as we get into the next huddle. “Got to get used to how quick you are.”
We mill about for a few seconds while Tony gets the next play call. And then an unwelcome voice comes.
“You gonna be a bust without your family carrying you, Battle?” Nate whispers to me.
I’m too shocked to react with a good retort. Somehow this guy has gone from wanting to ride my jock to get into clubs to blatantly insulting me?
This is some aggressive shit to pull with a teammate.
