KWU Athletics
Andrew Sorenson (SR/Manhattan, Kan.) is one of the old dogs on the Kansas Wesleyan football team, playing in his third and final season for the Coyotes.
Sorenson, though, is proving an old adage wrong – old dogs can and do learn new tricks.
Stationed at defensive end after transferring from William Jewell, Sorenson's primary job at KWU was to pursue quarterbacks and stop running backs before they get started.
He's doing that today but has an additional and essential responsibility that was foreign and a bit foreboding initially. Sorenson is dropping into the secondary tasked with covering would-be receivers.
"In high school I was an offensive lineman but in college I was too small so I was a defensive lineman," Sorenson said. "I'm still kind of small but my speed allowed me to transition into this kind of hybrid linebacker spot.
"The coaches did a very good job teaching that aspect of the position that Ricardo (Garcia) and I are playing because it was relatively new to us. It's like 'go do what you can do as a defensive end but then here's this part of the game you're going to need to learn.' I'm adding the challenge of 30 percent of the snaps dropping and covering a 170-pound speed guy."
Sorenson has adapted to the new role and has 19 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and pass breakup for the No. 15-ranked Coyotes. In other words, so far so good.
"It really hasn't been an issue for us," he said.
KWU coach Matt Myers agrees.
"He is intelligent, long and athletic which makes him a great combo player," he said. "His willingness to learn and adapt to the new scheme has translated into production. He's a great worker and great teammate."
Sorenson is part of a veteran defensive unit that includes seven seniors who are part of the front seven rotation.
"We've played with each other for at least two years," he said. "Last year it kind of clicked halfway through the season. Now through spring and fall camp we're just out there having fun. I know where Cole Parker (SR/Corning, Calif.) is going to be, Parker knows where I'm going to be, Scott Sanchez (SR/Kelseyville, Calif.) knows where Angel Baez (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.) is going to be ... It's just having that trust between the eight or nine of us."
Myers was promoted to head coach from defensive coordinator during the offseason and David Leonard was promoted to defensive coordinator. The defense changed but nothing dramatic.
"We took a lot of the concepts that we were running the past two years and just transitioned them to a different form of defense," Sorenson said. "We didn't change a whole lot, just some of the terminology basically but it's very similar."
Leonard runs the defense, Sorenson said, but Myers is never far away.
"He lets coach Leonard do a lot of the coaching and managing the defensive players and other defensive coaches," he said. "He and coach Leonard came together and this is their defense but I know that defense is special to him and he still makes recommendations when he wants to."
Sorenson and Co. face a still challenge Saturday when Avila comes to town for a 1 p.m. Kansas Conference game at JRI Stadium. The Eagles are 4-1, the loss a 24-21 setback against No. 6 Southwestern in Winfield in a game they led 21-10 late in the fourth quarter.
Avila's offense is led by talented freshman quarterback Eli Williams, a transfer from TCU, and senior running backs Malik Nesbitt, a two-time NAIA All-American, and Jahkese Watkins.
"When that quarterback has the ball in his hands, he can make stuff happen," Sorenson said. "Keeping him contained and getting him on the ground in the passing game is key. Both of the running backs are fast and talented so the biggest thing is to make them run laterally, contain them and get them on the ground."
Sorenson said the Coyotes (4-1) will be ready.
"We're an extremely experienced team," he said. "We've played in big games before; we've played very good teams the past two years and this will be a real test. Every game from now on is even bigger if we're going to make the playoffs."
Sorenson said the coaching staff has practiced and preached intensity since the loss to Bethel on September 18.
"The coaches have done a great job of putting their foot on the gas and making us follow them," he said. "Not letting guys be lazy in practice, not letting us have that lackadaisical, content attitude that I think we had going into the Bethel game. That really hurt us. "
Sorenson said he and his classmates are feeling a sense of urgency as their final season approaches the halfway point.
"A lot of us are fifth-year seniors, a lot of older guys," he said. "We're not going to get a shot to do this next year at the college level so we're all trying to play as perfect as possible. We can't take anything for granted because nothing's guaranteed. Playoffs aren't guaranteed, Saturday is not guaranteed, tomorrow is not guaranteed.
"The sun's going come up but you might not have football."