Kaden McNeil has been entrenched at middle linebacker since he began his Lake Station career.
Teammate David Parker has bounced around positions out of necessity.
But McNeil and Parker have something in common. They’re core players for a young team.
“Both of them have bright futures,” Lake Station coach Glenn Gulley said. “They just have to keep putting the work in.”
McNeil, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore, leads the Eagles (2-6) with 45 tackles, including 10 for loss, heading into the regular-season finale at rival River Forest on Friday. He has also rushed for 282 yards, which ranks second on the team, and a touchdown.
McNeil was no less involved defensively last season, when he led the team with 45 tackles as a freshman.
“I was nervous, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I was super nervous because this is a different ballgame compared to Pop Warner and middle school ball. But after a few games, I felt at home.
“I understand the game more this year, just learning from last year. I’m not scared like I was my freshman year.”
McNeil, who also wrestles and competes in track and field, has impressed Gulley.
“He came right in last year and started and led us in tackles,” Gulley said. “He’s one of our main defensive players this year, and he’s one of our main running backs, and he’s done a nice job putting up yardage there.”
Parker also praised McNeil.
“He’s definitely a big part of our team,” Parker said. “He’s our mike, our main linebacker. We need him. He’s a tough player, a strong player, and he plays hard every game.”
Parker, a 6-0, 180-pound junior, prefers to play receiver, which he considers his first and foremost position, and safety. But he has also played quarterback, running back, cornerback and linebacker for the Eagles.
“That’s one thing about David. He’ll play anywhere,” Gulley said. “He’s a very versatile guy.”
Parker, who averaged 2.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in basketball last season, takes it in stride.
“Whatever coach tells me to play, I’m good with it,” he said.
Parker has seven catches for 158 yards and three TDs this season, pacing the Eagles in each category. He has also run for 217 yards and a team-high four TDs and has completed 3 of 9 passes for 43 yards as the backup quarterback.
On defense, Parker has 26 tackles and two interceptions. Gulley noted Parker would have more interceptions if he hadn’t moved to linebacker after the Eagles suffered several injuries.
“I love safety,” Parker said. “You can read the quarterback. The ball is in the air — you can just go get it.”
Parker lined up at cornerback, receiver and running back as a freshman. He was Lake Station’s No. 1 quarterback last season, throwing for 138 yards and a TD. He added 444 rushing yards, which ranked second on the team, and a team-high four TDs. He also had 15 tackles and three interceptions.
“He’s a great player,” McNeil said of Parker. “I like him at quarterback, don’t get me wrong. But I love him at wide receiver. Him catching those balls, he can take us far.
“Defensively, same thing. He gets us turnovers, hits hard. Just a strong player. That’s David Parker right there — he does it all.”
That includes trying to boost his teammates.
“I hype them up,” Parker said. “I have a lot of energy. That’s one thing you need, especially with a small team. You definitely need a lot of energy, and I bring it.”
Lake Station hasn’t had a winning season since going 8-5 in 1998, claiming a sectional title in the process. Gulley, who is in his third season, believes the Eagles are building toward that benchmark.
“We’re right there on the verge of breaking it,” he said. “This season, we should be about .500. We had every opportunity. We have a young group, and we have to play mistake-free football.
“The whole thing is, I’ve tried to teach them this year to believe in themselves and have faith in themselves. They have to learn how to win. But the good thing is, we’re pretty much sophomore- and junior-heavy, so next year hopefully we can pull it off.”
