Natwann Callaway
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Kathleen senior linebacker Natwann Callaway knew he was meant to be a Kathleen linebacker since the eighth grade. All it took was a hard tackle on an unsuspecting little league player.
“My first play at linebacker came in my eighth grade year. I asked my little league coach Malcolm if I could play linebacker and he said yeah. The first play of the game we were on defense and all I saw was that running back get the ball; and I just flew into him. That was the biggest hit I’ve had in my life.”
Since then, the four-year letterman has been a staple on Kathleen’s defense and one of the key ingredients to the Red Devils’ undefeated record in the team’s first four games. He was a starter in Kathleen 20-3 upset of Lakeland that made the Red Devils district champions in 2013, and he also was a part of last year’s team that missed the playoffs after finishing with a 5-5 record. Callaway says that leadership and experience are the two biggest factors in his team’s success.
“The key difference between this year and last year is leadership. We have more seniority. You don’t always have too many mouths trying to talk at once. When one leader talks, everybody just listens. When we played Jenkins we started out slow on defense. The players on offense got on the field and said that they had us. A couple of plays later they had a touchdown.”
Watching last season’s playoff hopes slip away was a learning experience for Callaway. He realized last year that role of defensive leader was his; but he didn’t take charge until the season was over.
“Last year I wasn’t as vocal as I am this year. This year is my senior year and it’s time for me to step up. Even last year I was a veteran; I’ve been on varsity since my freshman year so I learned all the ropes real early but I didn’t start getting vocal until this year. I should have done it last year, but that’s the difference between this year and last. Last year all I was doing was calling plays on the defense. I wasn’t vocal. I wasn’t taking control like I was supposed to.”
Callaway says that last year’s missteps have made him and his teammates into stronger players. The senior has also received guidance from his family; who have also worn the Kathleen red and black.
“I had older cousins, older family that came through Kathleen just like I have. Deandre Callaway, Ronnie Callaway, Edward Taylor, Tony Black, Shaquille Black, Tony Black, Jr. They all came through and as I was coming through as a freshman Shaquille Black, my first cousin, was a senior. He told me a lot of things that help me now today. He told me what to prepare for in my senior year."
“I know how to be vocal. I know how to encourage my teammates instead of criticizing them. I don’t get mad when my teammates make mistakes on defense. He showed me how to do that. I remember my 10th grade year, my first year starting, I missed a couple tackles, and he didn’t get mad at me. He said something to me but he didn’t get mad. He just said, ‘Tighten up, you’ll get them next time, make up for it.”
Writer - James Bennett, Jr.
Photographer - Cameraman Hasani
jimmie borders is up next
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