Approximately 7 percent of high school football players go on to play college football, and senior Owen Sutter is trying to prove that he can be one of them.
“I want to show people that I can do it because a lot of people say I can’t,” Sutter said.
Sutter plays on both sides of the ball. On offense, he plays tight end, a position that usually has the key block on the outside.
“I’m worried about first making plays for my linebackers and letting the linebackers make plays,” Sutter said.
On defense, Sutter plays defensive tackle, which is a position that pressures the quarterback. “At D tackle, I’m worried about first making plays for my linebackers, letting the linebackers make plays. Second, making tackles and getting sacks.”
As a senior, however, Sutter is worried about more than his position; he’s also taking on a leadership role. Sutter is one of the three captains, along with sophomore Nathan Daniell and senior Carson Jurey. During practices and games, Sutter helps others find the right spot and shows them how to do things right when they need help.
“Owen is supportive while also challenging teammates to improve and to push themselves to the best of their ability,” junior Peyton Reed said.
To help him perform at the highest level, Sutter trains at his uncle Steve Warren’s facility, called Warren Academy, multiple times a week during his off-season. He also lifts weights and ensures he is eating right to prepare for the next season, and it shows on the field.
“Owen is one of the most dedicated players I’ve ever coached. All four seasons, he tries to do everything he can to help the team get better,” head football coach Dan Krajicek said.
Despite his dedication, Sutter’s football career has not been without challenges, as he has faced multiple injuries. During freshman year, he separated his shoulder but still played the rest of the season with a sully brace that kept his shoulder in place by limiting its movement. Sophomore year, he strained his meniscus in the last game of the season, so he was out at the beginning of basketball season. Then junior year, during the first game of the season, he dislocated his shoulder, which led to surgery after the season last November.
“I dislocated my shoulder three times in the first game and tore my labrum in many different places. It was actually from my freshman year’s injury, and [I] ended up having nine anchors put in during surgery,” Sutter said.
Recovery for Sutter with his most recent injury was very stressful because he was out for both the basketball season and the track season. He also had to leave school to attend physical therapy once a week.
“I have two words for recovery: stressful and annoying,” Sutter said. “Recovery was very annoying because I couldn’t do anything about it, but the sooner I recovered, the sooner I could play.”
This season, now that he’s fully healed, Sutter is hoping to finish his last season with a playoff run, but he sometimes finds it hard to stay in the moment because he’s always looking ahead.
“I’m always worried about the next big moment,” Sutter said.
Sutter hopes the next moment includes playing college and maybe someday having a shot at the NFL. “It’d be nice to get a shot at the college level,” Sutter said
“You just have to work hard, take it one play at a time. Week by week, day by day.”
“I believe Owen can do whatever he wants to do in the future because he has the athletic talent, so it’s just a matter of how high he wants to go,” Krajicek said.
To prepare for college, Sutter has spoken to over 30 different schools that range from Division I to Division II. He hasn’t made his final decision yet, though, and is trying his best to enjoy his final high school season.
“It all depends on where I want to go and where I’m going to be suited best at for the team,” Sutter said.
