Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Zack Hitchens hoping for more progress
7/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Chris Miles, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
As a senior at Canal Winchester, Zack Hitchens was brash, loud and the center of attention just about every place he went.
His on-the-field reputation was no different, as the lightning quick defensive end wrecked havoc on opposing backfields and kept offensive coordinators on high alert.
He earned All-Mid-State League, All-Central District and All-Ohio recognition in 2010, ultimately signing a letter of intent to play football at Kent State. He has gone pretty much quiet since.
It's not uncommon for high school standouts to disappear for a year or two as they transition to the college game, but Hitchens steadily has earned more playing time and could be in line for a breakout season with the Golden Flashes this season.
"My freshman year, I was pretty much just on special teams," Hitchens said. "As a sophomore, I got a lot more time on the field and really learned the defense.
"Now with that year of being out there under my belt, I'm ready. Everybody wants their chance to show what they can do and I think this is going to be mine."
The swagger Hitchens once walked around with has subsided a bit. The individual he is today seems to have more of a inner confidence and a better understanding of the world around him.
"I've gotten stronger and faster since high school," he said. "But the biggest change from high school to college is that there are roles and spots everyone has to be on every play.
"I wouldn't say I was selfish back then, but now I understand that I have to trust the play the coaches called and trust that the other guys will be in their spots, too. No one guy can do it alone, that's what I struggled with in the past."
Phil Mauro, who coached Hitchens at Canal Winchester and is now at Bloom-Carroll, said there never was a question about whether the standout had the physical abilities to play at the next level, but now the sky's the limit.
"He stopped by to see me the other day and it was quite a visit," Mauro said. "He's just grown so much, not so much in his physical size but in his maturation. He's gone from being ZHitch41 to being Zack Hitchens.
"He's always had the physical tools, but now he seems to have the total package. I've talked to some of the coaches up there and they can't say enough good things about him. There's just a calm about him now that wasn't there before."
Hitchens admits his growth as a player can be attributed to more time spent in the football classroom. Learning the nuances of the game through film study has helped accelerate his progress.
"I thought I could just show up and play like high school," Hitchens said. "I realized pretty quick that I needed to study film more if I wanted to get on the field."
At 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds, he has the body of a linebacker. But his ability to run and his quickness off the ball has made him an effective pass rusher off the edge.
In 2011, he registered two sacks and had 3.5 tackles for loss. He is aiming for much bigger things this season.
"I'd like to get 10 sacks on the season, and get a couple MAC player of the week awards, too," he said. "I'm still a bit undersized, but I rely a lot on my speed and quickness. I still have a lot of confidence in what I can do on the field."
Kent State was 5-7 in 2011 and open this season at home Aug. 30 against Towson.
"We're all working hard right now, and the goal is to be MAC champions," he said.
"I think Zack is real comfortable with where he is right now," Mauro said. "He was a little rough around the edges, they've buffed those corners and he's a lot smoother now.
"I expect him to have a great year."
