READY FOR THE BIG STAGE—Royal High junior-to-be Mason McCormick, left, is making the jump from junior varsity to varsity. The 15-year-old is expected to start at middle linebacker. Kevin Flye knows a thing or two about what it takes to play linebacker.

After all, the first-year Royal High football coach played the position at Weber State University from 1981-82.

Flye thinks he has a good linebacker in junior-to-be Mason McCormick.

“He’s got pretty good size. He’s a real good athlete and he runs well,” Flye said after a recent practice. “He’s a really good kid. He’s very coachable and he wants to do well.”

McCormick, 15, might not have a driver’s license, but the middle linebacker has already been given the keys to Royal’s leadership group.

The Highlander is one of six players on the Black Watch group designated for strong all-around team leaders. Coaches select three seniors and three juniors to the Black Watch.

Look for McCormick to produce immediately.

“We expect him to play well and have a good year from the getgo,” said Flye, who was a Royal assistant for 18 years.

“There’s no grace period. We expect him to be ready from the start.”

Flye also said the Highlanders are considering using McCormick as a halfback or a “pseudo fullback” who can catch short passes and be a lead blocker for a runner.

The 6-foot, 190-pound middle linebacker said he’s been working hard this summer while transitioning from the junior varsity squad to varsity.

“Things are looking good for this year,” McCormick said. “The unity on this team is the best I’ve ever seen.”

Coaches certainly don’t question his commitment to football.

McCormick was a track and field superstar as a freshman, but he dropped the sport after one year.

“I wanted to focus more on football,” he said.

McCormick finished second in the Marmonte League track and field finals in the 300-meter hurdles and was sixth in the long jump his freshman year. He didn’t participate in track last season.

“I like the fact that he can play more than one sport if he wanted to,” Flye said. “That tells me a lot about what he wants to do, and he shows it by working hard in the weight room.

“But there’s nothing wrong with guys playing multiple sports.”

The juniortobe played defensive back for the first half of his freshman year before moving to linebacker full-time.

He said his favorite football memory was recording 15 solo tackles against Oak Park on Sept. 19.

Flye said McCormick resembles Royal linebackers in the recent past—except that he is faster. McCormick called it his “recognition speed,” where he gets to a spot on the field in a hurry.

Other linebackers expected to contribute for the Highlanders this year include junior Jake Palomarez and seniors Alex Flandez and Shane Toth.

Flandez, another Black Watch member, could start on the offensive line while Palomarez could see time on the defensive line.

McCormick said he would like to improve his onfield agility, including changing direction quickly and fighting through blockers.

“I just want to be an asset to the team,” the linebacker said. “I just want to help us win.”

McCormick, as polite off the field as he is ferocious on it, said he wants to “work hard, play hard and keep my grades up.”

The Highlander carries a 3.2 grade-point average. His favorite class is U.S. history—even though he said it was his most difficult course.

McCormick’s father, Brian, played basketball at Royal. His uncle, Tony McCormick, played football for the Highlanders and was a member of the school’s first graduating class in 1970.

McCormick has one younger brother, Sean, 13, who plays for the Simi Valley Vikings youth football team.

In his free time, McCormick enjoys spending time with his family and wakeboarding.

Brian McCormick is impressed with his son’s commitment to football.

“We don’t make him do this,” he said. “He does this on his own.”

McCormick is anxiously waiting for the season to start.

“I’m very, very excited,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing with my friends and building team unity.

“I’m just looking forward to the future.”