Wossman’s Josh Wright makes selfless move to center

By the end of his junior season, Josh Wright had snaps at halfback, fullback and linebacker under his belt. As his body got bigger his on-field role continued to change, getting him into his senior season with a diverse encyclopedia of experience.

That helped him see Wossman’s problem right away.

“He realized in practice one day, ‘You know what, Coach, I’m tired of snaps being bad. This is my senior year, I want to help the team win, what do I have to do?’” Wossman coach Dean Smith said. “I told him I need somebody to play center. He’s 5’8”, 240 (pounds), strongest kid on the team.

“He touches the ball on every play, you can’t beat that.”

Wright, despite the obvious learning process ahead and even a few questions from his teammates, made the move from linebacker to center for Wossman in an effort to boost what Smith knows is the hinging point of his team: the offensive line.

“At first, I didn’t know about it. But then I thought that this is my senior year and I can help the team win. So if I have to play center, that’s what I have to do,” Wright said. “It’s doing what the teams needs me to do and wanting to win.”

Smith added, “Some of the kids didn’t think he was serious, some of them thought he was playing at first. From day one to next week to now, he’s the starting center. He has command of that offensive line.”

Wright will be the center surrounded by left guard Josh Jones, right guard Tyler Westwood, left tackle Donovan Ashley and right tackle Greg Bell and in a familiar role there: the leader.

"With him, he naturally likes to be a leader,” Smith said. “He’s one of those guys that likes to have control of some stuff. He fit right in.

“He loves playing for Wossman High School. He’s a kid you don’t know about that’s going to make a big impact and he’s going to be a special, special player for us.”

Wright added, “It’s been tough with the calls and the assignments, but I’m a smart guy, I can catch on fast. I’m still learning, but the leadership part isn’t that hard.”

Wright’s move to the offensive line is especially important for the team’s outspoken aspirations of a deep playoff run to the state championship game. With offensive talent surrounding the offensive line in quarterback Cam Lewis, running back Ladarrius Thomas, wide receivers Brandon Lewis and Zach Smith plus countless others, solid offensive line play could be what puts the Wildcats over the top in 3A.

If it pans out that way, Wright will have exactly what he wanted: a big role in Wossman winning games.

“We're still trying to piece this line together, but that comes in phases," Smith said after the jamboree against Evangel. "We had the scrimmage, and then tonight we played through two halves. There are some growing pains, but we'll work it out."

Follow Brett on Twitter, @BHudsonTNS.