FLINT – Brandon Green knows he has some big football cleats to fill at Linden.
But the 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior is ready for the challenge.
Linden has been a quarterback factory over the years and Green has been given the keys to the offense this season as the Eagles try and return to their high-scoring ways when they made 16 consecutive playoff appearances from 2002-17.
“I think he’s going to be very good,” said coach Dennis Hopkins, whose previous signal-callers such as Dustin Mayner, Cody Marks, Thad Kenney and Shaye Brown are all listed in the MHSAA record book for their passing prowess.
“He’s got the tools. He’s got the leadership that goes along with it.”
Green will be the full-time starter for the first time but he isn’t without some varsity experience.
He was called up to the varsity as a sophomore and played in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ final two games and then played in the 36-28 district championship loss to Kearsley last season.
“Having that past experience is huge,” Green said. “It helps a ton because I know the surroundings and how it works and it’s a big difference from playing freshman and JV.”
Green knows he’ll be under scrutiny given Linden’s past quarterbacks.
His two immediate successors were Colby Kohmescher, who passed for more than 3,100 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2019, and Gavin Wildeman, who passed for 1,296 yards and nine TDs in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
“I would say there’s definitely pressure there because I want to be as good as they were and … take the team as far as they did,” Green said. “I would say there’s pressure there but hopefully I can step over the pressure and help the team.
“I would say I can both throw and run. I wouldn’t say I run as well as a former quarterback like Colby but I can make the passes and use my legs when I need to.”
Although the Eagles have just four returning starters on each side of the ball, Hopkins said many of his players saw significant playing time as Linden posted a 5-3 record and beat Bay City Western 24-13 in the district semifinals last season.
“Our depth will be a strength,” Hopkins said. “We have a lot of guys fighting each other for playing time. That’s going to make us better in the long run. We don’t have very many seniors. I think we’ll only have 10 seniors.
“But our junior class is very strong and we have three or four sophomores that will have to contribute right away.”
One of those juniors will be the Eagles’ top players this season.
Bryce Eliuk was a first-team All-State pick in Division 3 as a linebacker last year and will be starting for the third year. He’ll also play running back.
Eliuk (6-1, 220) got an offer from Central Michigan as a freshman and he’s visited Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
He got a taste of playoff football last year and is eager to get back to the postseason.
“Last year was my first year in the playoffs,” said Eliuk, who had 125 tackles, nine tackles for losses, four forced fumbles and one interception last season. “It was super exciting to have that opportunity because I never knew what it was like.
“Playoff games are a lot different than regular season, especially playing with a lot of seniors. If you don’t win that game, you’ll never get to play with them again.”
The other returning starters on offense are senior lineman James Barrie (6-0, 220), wide receiver Garret Wagner (6-0, 160) and junior lineman Jaxx Liedel (5-10). Green also started at wide receiver.
The other returning starters on defense include Wagner in the backfield and four-year starter Wyatt Gocha (5-9, 185).
Linden will open the season Aug. 27 against Pontiac Notre Dame in the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Atwood Stadium.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere, I’m sure,” Barrie said. “Excited to play, excited to get out there. It will be a good tone setter.”
Indeed as Notre Dame is a strong Division 4 program that went 6-2 last season after winning 10 game in 2019.
“I know they’re a great team,” Wagner said. “I think it’s going to be a good one.”
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