Ohio Football
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Rising Star: Jamire Westbrook
By Greg Shoemaker | Featured Analyst
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The Class of 2010 was one of the best of the decade in the Greater Cincinnati area. With such a large crop of talent graduating this May, we begin to look at what players will take over as the stars of the local high school gridiron next season with our series, Rising Stars.
Last season was a challenging one for sophomore Jamire Westbrook. In 2008 he busted on to the scene as a freshman tailback at Little Miami where he ran for 768 yards and nine total touchdowns. The Panthers went 7-3 and things were looking promising for the upstart program.
When the season ended his family moved into the Kings school district which was difficult transfer.
“Going in a different program that was once my rival and just playing versus my old team was strange,” stated Westbrook.
Last year at Kings turned out to be one of the Knights’ toughest in recent history as the team went 3-7.
Head coach Andy Olds was struck with a heart attack in the preseason and the team never got off the ground after that.
Playing in his first season at a new school wasn’t easy for the sophomore.
“It didn't affect our focus at all to play as a team but we had it in our hearts the whole time he was out,” Westbrook said of the loss of their coach.
Westbrook’s play on the field spoke for itself. He would generate 1,690 total yards for the Knights. The youngster ran for 916 yards and four touchdowns. He also had four receiving and two passing scores.
His skills are far more complete than just running the football. Olds raves about his blocking ability, and his 5-foot-9, 185 pound frame carries a ton of upper body strength. He also can catch the ball coming out off the backfield with 28 catches and 442 receiving yards in ’09. Going into his junior year he has caught 44 balls while averaging 13.2 yards per reception.
With 20 varsity games under his belt and being heading towards a second year in the Kings’ program expectations have changed for Westbrook.
“My leadership role will change for the season,” he claims about his upcoming junior season. “I have more experience under my belt so I will have to lead the younger athletes on how to do it by working hard continuously on and off the field.”
He hasn’t even stepped on the field for his junior season and his accomplishments are already some of the Tri-state’s best. Westbrook has 1,684 yards rushing, 582 yards receiving, 99 passing yards, 248 return yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns and five receiving scores.
It should be a different story for this Knights team this fall. They played a ton of underclassmen a year ago and their experiences should pay dividends this season.
“We have a good team, we are not losing that many seniors, and we are going to be a team to watch for 2010,” Westbrook stated.
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FINAL TAKE: Even though Westbrook doesn’t have any college offers yet, they phone will be ringing off the hook after this season. Coach Olds thinks Westbrook will add another 15 pounds to his body and that will be appealing to universities who are going love his versatility and size. He is a polished player whose best days are still ahead of him.
Shoe is in his fifth season as a TSF Featured Analyst. The 1988 Xavier University graduate is an avid college basketball fan with a strong allegiance to the Musketeers. Greg is also the Director of Operation's for TriState Football's parent company GetSports Enterprises. If you are interested in covering your team, please CONTACT US.
