South Georgia - In The Game High School Sports Magazine

To say that Hahira Middle School eighth-grader Ian Bennett has picked up the game of football quickly would be an understatement. Bennett, in his second year of football, is already one of the most dedicated players on the Hahira Middle team. The 5’4” 13-year-old plays both ways, serving as an offensive and defensive lineman. He plays a little linebacker as well.

Bennett is a good athlete who grew up playing soccer and baseball. Larry Green, an assistant coach at Hahira Middle and one of Bennett’s sixth-grade teachers, mentioned to Bennett that he ought to try out for football. “I listened to him and thought it would be fun to try,” Bennett says. “I liked it immediately. I liked running and I enjoyed the physical aspect of football.”  He went out for football in the spring of his sixth grade year and hasn’t left the team.

Playing football in middle school can be an awkward proposition. It’s a strange stage of life for a youngster and players often try several different positions before they find the right one. Bennett had no preconceived notions about where he would play or what his role would be. He simply wanted to be on the football field. Before he could get too far into his football career, he had to convince his parents that the gridiron was the right place to be. Bennett’s father, Dr. Marshall Bennett, a veterinarian, had played football in middle school and high school. Bennett’s parents were worried but it wasn’t a hard sell. “They had some concerns but they were supportive. My dad convinced my mom to let me play,” he laughs.

At first, positions revolved for Bennett. He played at cornerback, safety and tight end before settling on the line, with a little time spent at linebacker. It didn’t take him long to learn an important lesson in football – it’s a lot more fun hitting someone than it is being hit. As such, he enjoys playing linebacker more than offensive line. “I like making plays and hitting people,” he says.

Hard-working and dedicated appropriately describe Bennett. He’s a smaller player and isn’t necessarily the most gifted athlete on the field. But he understands that the keys to being successful are found in having tremendous work ethic. Bennett truly loves football, and that love of the game drives him to get the most out of his abilities every day. “He’s not what you would describe as a prototypical football player. But he works very hard. He’s at every practice and has made tremendous improvements in his game. He’s a great example to other kids at school,” says Green.

Bennett really learned the game last year throughout Hahira Middle’s six-game season. His team didn’t win much – Hahira Middle went 1-5 – but Bennett enjoyed a great deal of playing time and earned valuable experience. In the last game of the season, he was selected as team captain and finally worked his way into the starting lineup. For the 2010 season, his goal has been to show that starting that final game of 2009 was no fluke.

“This summer, I wanted to get stronger and faster. I want to be a better all-around player,” he says. He knew the key to improving would be hard work. Instead of loafing around all summer, he put his nose to the grindstone and did everything he could to become a better football player. He has two older brothers – Sam, a freshman, and Ben, a senior – both of whom attend Lowndes High. He and his brothers spent the summer lifting and running together. “They really pushed me this summer,” recalls Bennett.

Through the summer months, one thing motivated him as he dragged himself through his workouts in one of the hottest summers on record. Bennett recalled what it felt like to stand in the middle of the field as a captain last season. “That was my coolest moment, being out there as a leader of the team. Very cool,” he says. His biggest asset, aside from his work ethic and dedication, is his intelligence. He pays attention to what is going on around him. He not only knows his blocking assignment but the assignments of everyone around him. He has become a key part of Hahira Middle’s game plan.

Bennett has aggressive goals for high school, academically and athletically. He would like to keep playing football when he gets to Lowndes High. Like just about everyone in the Lowndes school system, Bennett is acutely aware of what it means to be a Viking. He would like to be one of those underclassmen who stands poised to continue the tradition of winning championships. At the same time, he understands that high school is also a time to lay a foundation for a successful future. He’s already looking at the academic side of things and plans to take AP classes as he progresses toward graduation.

His future academic goals are consistent with his past work in the classroom. Bennett has always done well in school, thanks in large part to his parents. “They told me school always comes first. I can’t do anything else if I don’t make good grades,” he says. Bennett does particularly well in math and science, and he isn’t opposed to following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a veterinarian. He also likes education and thinks it might be interesting to teach agriculture. “I don’t know, I could see myself as a teacher,” he says.

While he considers his future in football and in the classroom, there are two other activities looming for Bennett: baseball and soccer. When Bennett started playing football, he was so enamored with the gridiron that he stopped playing the other sports. He might return to one or both of his previous sports. “I might play baseball or soccer again. But I have a busy schedule. I need some more time. But I really enjoy playing my other sports,” he says.

When Bennett isn’t playing football or studying, he enjoys reading. He is also a member of the Boy Scouts and the Lowndes 4-H archery and livestock teams. •

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