Russell’s McKenzie reflects on All-Star game

Published 4:05 am Friday, December 11, 2015

Normally a slot receiver, Russell Christian Academy’s Drake McKenzie got a different look than usual last Friday in the AISA All-Star football game in Montgomery, Ala.

McKenzie, a senior at RCA, was moved to tight end for the West squad as it was pitted against the East squad, with players from classes 1-3A all vying for bragging rights. Ultimately, it was the East team that won, 36-29, but McKenzie was able to haul in three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown.

“It was very special, to play with guys I’ve been playing against since sixth or seventh grade,” McKenzie said. “You just realize these are normal guys just like you. To make (the team) with them, it was special.”

RCA head football coach Nate Ballard said he was extremely impressed with McKenzie’s ability to adjust to playing tight end in just a few days of practice.

“To perform the way he did in blocking, considering he was a slot receiver, it was excellent, but I wasn’t surprised,” Ballard said. “He’s the type of kid who, when you give him a task, he’s going to do it well. The coaches said they needed a tight end, and he said he would play wherever. For three days of practice, he got pretty good at blocking, so that’s how they were able to use him.”

McKenzie, though, insists it wasn’t too difficult making the switch.

“It wasn’t really all that much different,” McKenzie said. “There was a lot more blocking than usual, but it’s nothing I’m not used to. I loved it. It honestly doesn’t matter where I play, as long as I’m on the field. I love playing the game.”

It was several weeks prior to last week’s All-Star game when McKenzie was called up in front of the school. He had no idea he was about to learn his selection in the game, but McKenzie recalls feeling honored to be named to the Western squad.

“It was just an unbelievable experience,” McKenzie said. “I had no idea what was going to happen — it was a big surprise to me.”

But not to Ballard, who said McKenzie is the type of player every coach wants on their team.

“He’s been playing with me since the seventh grade, and he’s been our workhorse the last two years,” Ballard said. “He’s a tremendous kid with a tremendous work ethic.

“It’s always great when you have kids like that, whom you don’t have to worry about as far as what they’re going to give you in practice or a game. He’s going to give you 100 percent and do something again and again until he gets it right. It’s a good feeling knowing you can trust a 17- to 18-year-old young man like that.”

With his senior year of football being behind him, McKenzie said he hopes he left a strong legacy for other players to follow.

“This whole year has been about me and the senior class trying to set a standard,” McKenzie said. “I wanted to leave a mark and put Russsell on the map. We’re a young school, so we want to set an example for the students that come after us.”

John Epps was RCA’s first All-Star selection in 2012, back when the Warriors competed in MAIS, making McKenzie the first AISA selection for the school. Ballard said having a player play in an All-Star game was a good chance to get RCA’s name exposed on the state level.

“It gets people talking about Russell Christian who may not know about us,” Ballard said. “Our record may not have been good the last few years, but we do have good players, and it shows we’re not far from where we want to be or need to be as a program.”

McKenzie said he’s grateful to have played for Ballard for six seasons, beginning when he was in middle school.

“He’s always been a really positive guy,” McKenzie said. “He’s always been a great coach to be around. He has a good attitude, and it’s all about having fun and getting stuff done at the same time. You couldn’t ask for a better coach.”

McKenzie is the grandson of Cindy and Lee Littrell.