TRI-LAKES AREA — Saturday through Thursday, Chris Rycraw is a polite, mildmannered kid who gets along with everybody and likes to play video games.
On Friday nights, though, he becomes something else, something dangerous to opposing defenses, something feared by coordinators across the 7A Central.
Chris is the go-to tailback in the Bryant Hornets' offensive attack.◊e 5-10,
183-pound senior emerged during his junior year as one of the best running backs in the state, and all signs lead to him repeating that success in 2009.
His numbers last year are gaudy: more than 1,500 rushing yards on nearly 300 at tempts and 17 touchdowns.
But Chris' story isn't one of a stud who's dominated from day one. He had to earn his spot. In 10th grade, Bryant already had a talented tailback in Aspen Trevino, and Chris was relegated to the junior varsity squad for much of the season. During that time, Chris' father, Shawn, encouraged his son to keep working hard.
"I always told him to be patient, wait for your time to come," Shawn Rycraw said. "When his time came, he did what he had to do."
Chris got some varsity touches toward the end of his sophomore season, and coming into his junior year, he had earned a starting spot. As many of his teammates went down with injuries, Chris jumped on the opportunity to showcase his talent.
Bryant head coach Paul Calley said he never doubted Chris' talent, but he's glad Chris was able to come into his role slowly his sophomore year instead of being thrown into the◊re.
"Our offense is so multiple, it just took him a little while to catch on," Calley said.
"He never gave me any reason to think he wasn't going to be good. I just felt like he wasn't ready. But he got ready. Now he has a complete grasp of the offense." Calley said his 2008 team felt the sting of injuries when it lost some games it should have won, "but we won some games we shouldn't have," he said, and Chris was a big part of that.
Calley said it's a wonder Chris didn't end up on the trainer's table himself.
"We were in such dire straits last year, we had to depend on him," Calley said. "When you carry the ball almost 300 times in 7A, you're going to be beat up, battered and bruised. But he never complained, he just kept working hard." Working hard and commitment to the game are second nature to Chris. His dad recalled one instance in which their family was planning a trip to Six Flags. Chris decided not to go because it would mean he'd have to miss practice.
Shawn and Calley agreed that Chris is a pleasure to be around.
"Chris is real laid-back," Shawn said. "I don't have any kinds of problems out of him at all." Calley agreed.
"He gets along great with everybody," the coach said. "He's really humble. Despite the success he's had, he's not going to take all the credit for it."
Calley said the typically quiet Chris comes alive on the sideline when cheering on his teammates. In a recent scrimmage, one of Chris' teammates returned an interception more than 50 yards for a touchdown.
After the play, one of the officials approached Calley to let him know that one of the Bryant players had run into the official on the sideline at the end of the interception return.
"We didn't know who it was, but when we looked at the game tape, we realized it was Chris. He had run down the sideline step for step with his teammate, cheering him on. And he ran into the official," Calley said with a laugh.
Chris doesn't much like to talk about himself, though he's proud of some of his accomplishments in the offseason.
"I've gained about 20 pounds," he said.
Calley said Chris has added about 70 pounds to each of his lifts in the weight room, which will better prepare him for another grinding season.
The offense will center on Chris again this year, but Calley said he's hoping to get him some help in the passing game. As another way to protect his star running back, Chris won't be asked to return kickoffs anymore or line up on defense in the secondary.
Chris' sights are set squarely on playing football in college, but that wasn't always the case. His first love is basketball, and although he stopped playing after his sophomore year, he hopes to return to it someday as a coach.
Calley just shook his head and laughed when asked about Chris' love for basketball.
"I don't see how a kid who's such a good football player could like basketball better," he said.
Shawn said he sort of made the decision for Chris to pursue football full time.
"I told him, 'You're not starting here in basketball; you get more attention in football, so let's stick with football,'" Shawn said.
Chris has gotten looks from a number of Division I and Division II colleges, and Shawn said Arkansas State University and Iowa State University are the two schools that have shown the most interest.
While Calley will try to protect Chris this year, he's also looking for new ways to utilize him in the offense. Chris said in practices he's been lining up some at wide receiver and has run different things out of the Wildcat formation. However he's helping the team, Calley knows he has a special player.
"I've never had a kid who works any harder, and I've not had many who have as much ability," the coach said. "He's one who doesn't come around every day."
Tri-Lakes, Pages 10 on 08/30/2009