It Doesn't Take Great Size to Generate Energy
10/29/2013 9:41:00 AM | Football
In just his second year at Kent State and his first on the field, Ernest Calhoun is helping the Golden Flashes continue to change their football culture.
The product of Akron Buchtel High School is making his impact as a wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner despite standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 150 pounds. And those are just his measurements according to Kent State's official roster.
"I'm probably closer to 5-5 and 145," Calhoun admits.
That lack of prototypical size for a Division I receiver is a big reason why Calhoun is attempting to fulfill his football dream as a walk-on at Kent State.
"All through high school I was a good player, but I didn't get the looks other people got because I wasn't considered tall enough," he said. "I feel like my height has given me a chance to be underrated, though, and I don't mind that. I love being the underdog. I like to go out and make plays and show the crowd and other teams that I have what it takes to play at this level."
Calhoun is proving that it doesn't take great size to generate energy.
"Ernest is a very outgoing person," said offensive coordinator Brian Rock. "He brings great attitude and effort to practice and meetings. He is just a lot of fun to be around. When we need energy on the practice field, he is the one who brings it."
While he always runs drills at full speed and comes to the meeting room prepared, Calhoun goes about his business with a sense of humor that keeps everyone around him loose and smiling.
"That's his personality," said Rock. "He comes in for meetings and goes across the back row of coaches and high fives them or hugs them."
And he's not afraid of pulling away his hand on one of those high five, faking out even his head coach.
"He does that all the time," said Paul Haynes. "He'll even run up to me like he wants to chest bump, and then turn and walk away smiling. I love it. He is always so positive and the whole practice he keeps everyone loose and laughing."
Calhoun came about his relaxed and fun-loving attitude from his father, Ricky Powers, who was his head coach at Buchtel.
"My dad was a phenomenal coach, but he instilled in me the idea that it is important to have fun playing football because he believed that when you are uptight, the more likely you are to make mistakes," said Calhoun.
Football fans will remember Powers from his days as an All-Big Ten running back at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s. As a high-school player at Buchtel, Powers was the star of back-to-back state championship football teams. He also played briefly in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Typical of sons of head coaches and former players, Calhoun "gets it," according to Kent State's coaches.
"Ernest has been around the game all of his life, so he understands the game," said Haynes. "He also understands the political part of it."
Understanding the politics has helped Calhoun adjust to going from high-school star to Division I walk-on hoping for a chance. The desire to seek out that opportunity may have come from his mother, Melissa, "who molded me when I was young kid and taught me to be outgoing and independent," said Calhoun. "I'm outgoing because she made me go out and try new things when I didn't always want to. Because of that, I'm willing to take risks (others) might not take."
Taking the risk of walking on at Kent State is paying off for Calhoun in his redshirt freshman season. His opportunity to play ahead of schedule arrived when star wide receiver and kick returner Dri Archer suffered an ankle injury in the season opener.
Calhoun stepped in at wide receiver took an end-around 29 yards on just his second career rushing attempt Sept. 7 against Bowling Green. He caught four passes at LSU on Sep. 14, then added three more catches and a 22-yard run a week later at Penn State. Through eight games, Calhoun has averaged almost 20 yards on 18 kickoff returns. He has also been a fixture in Kent State's rotation on punt returns.
"Ernest doesn't have the 4.2 speed that Dri has, but he is very fast," said Rock. "He is also extremely elusive. He can change direction and do a lot of things. He has continued to make a roll for himself.
"The next step for him is to become bigger and stronger. He is not going to grow taller, but he can get more physically durable and he can keep working to understand his position. I don't have a crystal ball, but I'm excited about Ernest and his future at Kent State."
According to Haynes, another step for Calhoun is to earn a scholarship.
"He is doing well academically and athletically, and those are the types of players you want to reward," said Haynes. "Any time I have to do something that takes energy from the players, Ernest and Nate Vance are the first guys I ask because that's who they are personality wise. And those are the kinds of guys you want to reward, too. I know that is a goal of his, to be on scholarship."
The product of Akron Buchtel High School is making his impact as a wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner despite standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 150 pounds. And those are just his measurements according to Kent State's official roster.
"I'm probably closer to 5-5 and 145," Calhoun admits.
That lack of prototypical size for a Division I receiver is a big reason why Calhoun is attempting to fulfill his football dream as a walk-on at Kent State.
"All through high school I was a good player, but I didn't get the looks other people got because I wasn't considered tall enough," he said. "I feel like my height has given me a chance to be underrated, though, and I don't mind that. I love being the underdog. I like to go out and make plays and show the crowd and other teams that I have what it takes to play at this level."
Calhoun is proving that it doesn't take great size to generate energy.
"Ernest is a very outgoing person," said offensive coordinator Brian Rock. "He brings great attitude and effort to practice and meetings. He is just a lot of fun to be around. When we need energy on the practice field, he is the one who brings it."
While he always runs drills at full speed and comes to the meeting room prepared, Calhoun goes about his business with a sense of humor that keeps everyone around him loose and smiling.
"That's his personality," said Rock. "He comes in for meetings and goes across the back row of coaches and high fives them or hugs them."
And he's not afraid of pulling away his hand on one of those high five, faking out even his head coach.
"He does that all the time," said Paul Haynes. "He'll even run up to me like he wants to chest bump, and then turn and walk away smiling. I love it. He is always so positive and the whole practice he keeps everyone loose and laughing."
Calhoun came about his relaxed and fun-loving attitude from his father, Ricky Powers, who was his head coach at Buchtel.
"My dad was a phenomenal coach, but he instilled in me the idea that it is important to have fun playing football because he believed that when you are uptight, the more likely you are to make mistakes," said Calhoun.
Football fans will remember Powers from his days as an All-Big Ten running back at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s. As a high-school player at Buchtel, Powers was the star of back-to-back state championship football teams. He also played briefly in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Typical of sons of head coaches and former players, Calhoun "gets it," according to Kent State's coaches.
"Ernest has been around the game all of his life, so he understands the game," said Haynes. "He also understands the political part of it."
Understanding the politics has helped Calhoun adjust to going from high-school star to Division I walk-on hoping for a chance. The desire to seek out that opportunity may have come from his mother, Melissa, "who molded me when I was young kid and taught me to be outgoing and independent," said Calhoun. "I'm outgoing because she made me go out and try new things when I didn't always want to. Because of that, I'm willing to take risks (others) might not take."
Taking the risk of walking on at Kent State is paying off for Calhoun in his redshirt freshman season. His opportunity to play ahead of schedule arrived when star wide receiver and kick returner Dri Archer suffered an ankle injury in the season opener.
Calhoun stepped in at wide receiver took an end-around 29 yards on just his second career rushing attempt Sept. 7 against Bowling Green. He caught four passes at LSU on Sep. 14, then added three more catches and a 22-yard run a week later at Penn State. Through eight games, Calhoun has averaged almost 20 yards on 18 kickoff returns. He has also been a fixture in Kent State's rotation on punt returns.
"Ernest doesn't have the 4.2 speed that Dri has, but he is very fast," said Rock. "He is also extremely elusive. He can change direction and do a lot of things. He has continued to make a roll for himself.
"The next step for him is to become bigger and stronger. He is not going to grow taller, but he can get more physically durable and he can keep working to understand his position. I don't have a crystal ball, but I'm excited about Ernest and his future at Kent State."
According to Haynes, another step for Calhoun is to earn a scholarship.
"He is doing well academically and athletically, and those are the types of players you want to reward," said Haynes. "Any time I have to do something that takes energy from the players, Ernest and Nate Vance are the first guys I ask because that's who they are personality wise. And those are the kinds of guys you want to reward, too. I know that is a goal of his, to be on scholarship."
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