GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Weslaco East junior JC Vargas is the team’s every-down free safety, leading returning receiver, and a mainstay on every special team as the projected punter, kickoff returner and punt returner.
So when does he find time to rest?
“Uhhh,” Vargas said, pausing. “I don’t know…”
Coach Mike Burget says the answer is offense. But rest assured, it won’t be often.
As Weslaco East heads toward the 2016 season looking to reach the playoffs for a 10th consecutive year, Vargas is ready to step into the do-everything role that last season belonged to All-Area All-Purpose Player of the Year Ciro Rojas.
“He’s going to do it all this year,” Burget said. “He’s going to be another Ciro. Will he be as good? Only time will tell.”
In preparation for the increased role, Vargas chose to wear the jersey number Rojas donned last season: 1.
Burget said the decision is a testament to how close the two were last year. When Vargas took the rare offensive snap, Rojas would help him line up and make sure he understood the play.
“I’ve been looking up to him ever since my freshman year,” Vargas said. “He’s always been there. So now, taking his role is big shoes to fill. … It’s pressure, because he was pretty good. So I have to put as much as he did into the team.”
A starter last season, Vargas racked up 53 tackles and four interceptions at free safety, showing a willingness to hit and attack the ball in the air. On offense, Vargas flashed potential, averaging 21.3 yards on his three carries and 12.4 yards on his nine catches.
“He’s a college athlete,” Burget said. “He’s a college secondary kid. He’s a college receiver. He’s very explosive.”
Learning an offense that aims to spread and pass more while picking up the tweaks to a defense that wants to use more complex secondary schemes, Vargas has split his practice time about evenly, with a slight lean toward offense.
With sights set on a heavier role, Vargas walked into practice this season changed, ready and excited, Burget said. Vargas has seen himself develop significantly since he joined the varsity team has a freshman, when he weighed just 135 pounds and relied on his athleticism. He enters his junior season weighing 160 pounds and serving as one of the vocal leaders on the defensive side.
“When I first came in, I didn’t know much,” Vargas said. “I would go up there, and I would get hit. I’ve just learned how to keep up with the pace. I think I’m a lot faster, smarter, and bigger.”
CHANGING THEIR WAYS
With a proven quarterback in Richard LeFevre and a deep group of receivers, Burget said East is looking incorporate more passing into its offense. The past two seasons, the Wildcats have gained more than 80 percent of their offensive yardage on the ground.
“We’re going to be patient. We’re going to try to throw the ball,” Burget said. “If we go 5-5 or 4-6, I hope that people out there know we’re trying something new. We’re going to commit to the pass game this year.”
Defensively, East is switching to a 3-4 front that will emphasize speed and aggression. Burget said the Wildcats are smaller on defense than they’ve ever been, so the plan is to constantly attack and try to penetrate the line of scrimmage.
Linebackers Adrian Duran (122 tackles) and Roy Pedraza (82 tackles) are among a large contingent of returning starters — a reason communication is improved from last year.
“We’re in a more aggressive defense than we were,” Duran said. “We’re going to be blitzing, and everybody goes to the ball, and everybody is going to get in on the tackle.”
TOUGH TESTS
Weslaco East has assembled one of the hardest slates possible without leaving the Valley. The Wildcats will face Sharyland High, McAllen Memorial and Edinburg Economedes before opening District 32-6A play with Weslaco High, San Benito, Los Fresnos and Harlingen High.
“When we saw the schedule we laughed, and then we cried a little bit,” Burget said. “We know we have our hands full. We know it. We take on the challenge.”
PROGNOSIS
If Weslaco East isn’t careful, the growing pains of changing on offense and defense could spell trouble in the move to a more challenging District 32-6A. But, there’s a reason the Wildcats have been to the playoffs nine straight years.
Projected 2016 Record: 6-5
TENURE
Coach: Mike Burget
Year at school: 4th
Record at school: 25-10