By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
There’s just something about the game of football for Brownsville Veterans Memorial linebacker Morgan Borland.
The senior isn’t going to boast about it, he’ll let it show through his actions.
As a eighth grader, after school he would walk from his middle school a few miles to Brownsville Veterans just to watch spring football practice. When practice was over he would walk a few miles home.
Never said a word, just watched and learned. And he never missed a day.
“How many middle school kids would do that?,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said. “I don’t know where it comes from. His parents are passionate about football. His father is from Wisconsin and a huge Green Bay Packers fan.
“That’s what’s in him. That you can’t teach.”
Brownsville Veterans linebacker coach Jaime Castaneda added, “It says a lot about him. I think it was his love of the game and wanting to learn more about the game.”
But a passion for the game doesn’t always translate into talent. Borland had to work at it.
As a junior, Borland was further back on the depth chart, and Cantu and the staff felt he would play on the junior varsity and possibly move up to varsity later during the season. But Borland wasn’t deterred, and he went back to learning by observation.
“I worked hard. I learned from my teammates ahead of me,” he said. “I saw what they were doing and tried to do the same thing, building reps and reps.”
Not only did the preparation eventually earn him a spot on the varsity roster, he earned a place in the starting lineup. Cantu still beams at the progress that Borland made last season to get where he is.
“And eventually he becomes our most consistent player, he’s really Mr. Consistency for us,” Cantu said. “He doesn’t have the greatest measurables. When you put him on the football field, he’s consistently making plays because of his film study, and he’s (football) savvy.”
Castaneda said Borland has become the player he is because of his work ethic.
“He’s come a long way due to his hard work, his commitment, his dedication,” Castaneda said. “He has really blossomed. I’m not surprised, though. He took of every advantage he had.”
Not that you will hear Borland boast about his excellent play for the Chargers’ defense.
“I set the example that you don’t have to talk too much. You lead by your actions, not your words,” he said.
Castaneda didn’t mix his words when talking about the important role Borland plays for the defense.
“He’s like an assistant coach on the field,” Castaneda said. “He knows where everyone needs to line up. He’s very intelligent, very football savvy, very knowledgeable of the game.”
The Brownsville Veterans defense has been one of the more consistent squads in District 32-6A this season.
Borland lets his play do the talking, but occasionally he is more vocal.
“When he talks, people listen,” Castaneda said. “The few times he does, it means a little bit more. (His teammates) respect him.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.