By Jeff Johncox
If you've seen Norman High play this year, you've heard one number and name called more times than any other.
"Tackle by No. 11, Greg Offenburger," the announcement usually says.
And stadium announcers say that over, and over, and over ...
Offenburger is a tackle machine.
No one in the Tigers' lineup has a better instinct for getting to the football and bringing down a ball carrier. Metaphorically speaking, the guy is everywhere.
"(Offenburger) has an uncanny ability to find the ball," NHS defensive coordinator Shannon Carter said. "He has great instincts. He's just a football-playing machine.
"Even as a sophomore last year, he made a lot of tackles."
In fact, Offenburger may have been one of the top sophomore defenders in Class 6A last year.
He amassed 75 tackles, seven for a loss, and added a sack.
Now, Offenburger's bigger, stronger and more experienced.
And he's turning into one of the leaders of a pretty stout Tiger defense that's allowing 281 yards and 16 points per game.
Though those numbers don't seem extraordinary, consider NHS opened the season against Norman North and Del City, two teams that have proved they know how to score.
"The defense, we want to go out there and set the tone and make big plays," Offenburger said. "We want to get the ball back for our offense. Then they can drive the ball and give us a bit of a rest ... We just want to go out there and play to the best of our ability."
So far, Offenburger's best has been pretty good.
He's leading the team with 46 tackles in three games, good enough for sixth among defenders in all classes.
He also has two sacks and a forced fumble. Teams' hesitancy to throw across the middle when Offenburger's around, or run at him, helps set up other Tigers for big plays. That's part of the reason NHS has a 12-4 turnover ratio this year.
"He watches a lot of film, and he's the hardest working guy in the weight room," Carter said. "His success is a testament to his hard work."
Offenburger, who's 6-foot, 210 pounds, is quiet in interviews, but Carter says he's a cut-up with a good sense of humor.
But once he gets on the field, it's all about making the hits count and taking down the ball carrier.
"He's definitely a guy with the 'passion of the pads,'" Carter said. "Really, he's not a very vocal person at all. But he does it all out on the field."
Offenburger's humble about the attention he's receiving, giving an "aw, shucks" type of answer and crediting Carter and linebackers coach Sonny Feexico for putting him in a position to make plays. Feexico has done a great job with the Tiger linebackers this season, as opposing offenses can attest.
But when a player gets off to a hot of a start, like Offenburger, extra attention is warranted.
"There's nothing really special," Offenburger said. "I just go out and play my game, hit the gaps I'm supposed to. I just try to play hard and help this defense."
Whatever he's doing, he's doing it the right way.
And opposing coaches are taking notice, too.
"We've had a number of coaches through the first few games come and inquire about No. 11," Carter said. "'Who is that kid?' I tell them, 'He's a junior,' and their eyebrows go up because they know they have to deal with him for another year."
NHS has had a string of very talented middle linebackers come through in the past six or seven years.
Offenburger could turn out to the be the best of the bunch, though he has some work to do. Carter, however, emphatically believes the junior has the talent, size and attitude to play at the next level.
But before he even has to worry about any of that, Offenburger still has at least seven games this year and then his entire senior campaign to get even better.
That has to intimidate Tiger opponents.
Jeff Johncox 366-3535 jjohncox@normantranscript.com
