SPRINGDALE — Nick Gookin’s practice jersey is in sad shape. The dark blue No. 22 is riddled with holes on both shoulders.
The Shiloh Christian senior linebacker is comfortable in the well-worn jersey. It’s logged a lot of practice time over the past four years.
While his jersey is admittedly a little worse-for-wear, his play on the field is anything but ragged.
The 6-foot, 194-pound outside linebacker recorded 66 tackles last season, which ranked third on the team. With leading tackler Samuel Taylor gone from the team after moving to Texas in June, Gookin’s numbers figure to rise this season.
Profile
Nick Gookin
SCHOOL: Shiloh Christian
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 194
POSITION: Linebacker
NOTABLE: Recorded 66 tackles last season. … Had eight tackles in season-opening win against Warren at UCA. … Had added 10 pounds since the start of spring practice.
“My goal this year is definitely over 66 tackles,” Gookin said. “Sam was a huge asset to our team, but I feel like I can help fill that gap.”
Gookin said he’s added 10 pounds over the past year, and credited new strength and conditioning coach John Durmon’s rigid strength program for the increase.
“I’ve worked a lot harder in the weight room,” Gookin said. “Coach Durmon has been a huge deal for me. Just doing a lot more in the power clean and using my hips and working on my explosiveness.”
Saints defensive coordinator Dawayne Hudson said Gookin comes to practice every day with a mindset that he’s going to work harder that anybody on the field.
Hudson said the Saints will operate in a 3-4 defensive scheme with Gookin playing Mike linebacker alongside Austin Connolly and Ryne McDonald.
“With Austin and Ryne, I definitely feel like the linebackers will be good this year,” Gookin said.
Gookin and Hudson agreed the senior leadership on this year’s team has been exceptional during the spring and summer workouts. There are 16 seniors on this year’s roster, and many of those have been together since kindergarten.
“These seniors have really responded,” Hudson said. “We’ve put them through the ringer this summer and they have responded. We’ve challenged them and they’ve risen up.”
None more so than than Gookin, Hudson said.
“He’s physical. He does what he’s supposed to do, the way he’s coached,” Hudson said. “He’s worked his tail off this spring and summer.”
And his tattered, hole-riddled jersey is proof of that.