Jack trotted to his spot on the left side of the formation, wider than any of the other players. He knew where to go, even if he’d never done it before.
He checked his feet to make sure he was in the right spot. He heard snickering. He looked up.
Darren Walker, a cornerback, smiled at Jack.
“Why are you so happy?” Jack said.
“I finally get to hit you.”
Jack checked his footing again. “If you can catch me,” he said.
“You’d better hope I don’t.”
“You’ll look like a fool if someone who has never played receiver puts you on your ass on his first snap.”
Walker hunkered down and braced himself. “Bring it, Dakota.”
“It’s DeCotto.”
“Not if I send your goofy ass to North Dakota.”
Lonnie started the play. Jack ran at Walker, who lunged forward to jam Jack with both hands. Jack stutter stepped and leaned. Walker missed him, and Jack was free.
Jack ran ten yards. He stopped. He turned. The ball whistled his way.
He reached up for it. It struck his hands and went through them.
Jack ran back to the huddle, rubbing his palms on the front of his pants.
“I thought you said you’d catch it,” Lonnie said.
“I said I’d get open. I wasn’t ready to catch it.”
Connors called out to them. “Tick, tick, tick, gentlemen.”
“Be ready this time,” Lonnie said. He leaned in toward the others. “Same play.” His eyes shifted to Jack. “On one.”
Jack went back to the same spot. After he confirmed he was in the right spot, he turned his face up. Walker wasn’t smiling this time.
“You had your chance,” Jack said. “You blew it.”
“I’ll have plenty more.”
The play started. Jack faked the stutter step and blasted into Walker. He fell backward, feet flying up.
Jack finished the route. He turned back to Lonnie. The ball was coming. Jack snatched it.
Connors pointed at Jack, more than twenty yards away. “That’s more like it! See, Jack. You’re a natural.”
The compliment didn’t make Jack feel any better. But he kept working. Kept running routes. Kept catching passes. Kept baiting Darren Walker. Beating him. From time to time, hitting him.
It was going well. Very well. Jack knew it. He still was pissed off about it.
He also knew he had no choice. It was too late to transfer. He had to accept this sudden change to his circumstances. He had to adjust to it.
He didn’t have to like it. He was a quarterback. Now, his coach wasn’t letting him play the only position he’d ever known.
He wondered whether he’d ever get a chance to play quarterback again.