FAIRMONT — Leading into high school football practice starting on July 31, The Robesonian’s sports reporter Jonathan Bym is publishing a countdown of the top 15 players in Robeson County, and Fairmont’s Sidney McKeithan comes in at No. 12 on the list.
Many players on Fairmont’s roster this year will be asked to play on both sides of the ball, and none might be more multifaceted to play and excel in several different offensive and defensive positions than McKeithan.
“I can do it all. Just put me there and I’ll do my best,” McKeithan said.
On top of being the leader of the defense at middle linebacker, the senior will also see time at different skill positions on offense, coach Kevin Inman said.
“We can move him around offensively at some wide receiver, some tight end and even put him in the backfield some,” Inman said.
After a subpar season for the Fairmont defense last year in which teams were able to run the ball with ease against it, McKeithan has taken making the defense better his challenge as a senior leader. He feels that preparing the team starts with how he plays, and McKeithan has used this summer to get better as a player.
“I feel like I can do better than what I did last year,” McKeithan said. “I’ve got to lead this defense, and I will let them know that if you don’t get it this play, you can make up for it next play.”
“Keeping him in the middle I think is a must and he is very athletic where he can go with our (strong side linebacker) and be able to play in space,” Inman said of the 5-foot-11, 180 pound McKeithan. “He flies to the ball and has a nose for the ball so well that you don’t want to handicap yourself and put him on just one side or the other. We can keep him in the middle where he can call out the offense and direct guys where to go.”
McKeithan has seen how the new defense that Inman in bringing in will set up in practice and believes the changes, with him in the middle, could help the Golden Tornadoes this season.
“We’re trying a new defense and we will need everyone to step up and play with the same motor,” McKeithan said. “It was tough (last year), like no one knew where to go, but this year the coaches have got us because they watched a lot of film on us.”
