Letting the Center Lead the Way
I grew up in the Wing-T. Trap, Buck Sweep, Waggle… it was who we were. So when the spread started taking over, I did what most coaches do: I tried to drag some of that Wing-T DNA into what we were building. It was my comfort zone.
About 15 years ago, Nevada was living in the Pistol, and one of the plays that caught my eye was their “Horn” concept. It was essentially a Buck Sweep out of the gun, sometimes a pin-and-pull, sometimes just the center pulling, but the back was always downhill before bouncing outside behind the pullers.
I loved the play. The problem? Asking a high school center to snap and pull is asking a lot. Some years, you’ve got that kid. Most years, you don’t. But the more I watched Mercer and Kansas State in Week Zero this season, the more I’m convinced it’s worth finding a way.
Mercer: Using the Center to Open the Edge
Second play of the game. Mercer comes out in trips to the field with a tight end into the boundary. Back flashes across the QB’s face. On the edge, the TE locks up the end, the play side tackle down-blocks, and both the guard and center pull. Guard takes the corner, center fits up on the inside linebacker. Backside guard and tackle scoop and cut off pursuit.
It doesn’t go for much, but it sends a message. They were going to use the center as a weapon.
Later, Mercer gets very creative with the rulebook and widens the backside tackle out with the receivers, almost a diamond look, and comes back to the same concept. Tight end widens with the defensive end, guard and center again pull together. Center climbs for the LB scraping over the top, guard stretches for the corner. That’s enough to crease the defense for a chunk gain.
Kansas State: Same Concept, Different Dressing
K-State has their own version. No TE, split-back set.
Odd front. Tackle reaches the end, right guard down-blocks the nose, and the center is free to pull. Backside guard climbs to the backer, tackle releases to the alley defender. Receivers handle the safety. The key here is the center staying square on his pull, eyes locked on the inside linebacker. If he fits clean, it’s a big play waiting to happen.
Later, K-State goes trips with a wing to the field. Iowa State stunts, which makes the tackle’s life easy. The center pulls square and fits up on the play-side linebacker. Even with the receivers not blocking particularly well, you can see the explosive potential.
Coaching Takeaway
Most high school coaches don’t want to pull the center. It feels risky, and a lot of kids just aren’t built for it. But the game keeps showing us that if you’ve got an athlete there, you’re leaving a weapon unused by keeping him home.
Against odd fronts especially, pulling the center creates angles you just can’t get otherwise. And if you pair it with tempo, motion, and formation variety, it becomes hard to diagnose.
So here’s the challenge:
Identify if you’ve got the right kid at center. (Quick feet, can snap and move, doesn’t panic in space.)
Rep it constantly. Snapping and pulling is not natural, but it can be built with reps.
Call it in the right spots. Use it against odd fronts, wide ends, and when you want to change the picture for linebackers.
Find yourself an athlete at center and let him run.