Arclies earns starting position on defense after impressive Abbeville High scrimmage

Abbeville High School senior wide receiver Derek Arclies worked for three and a half years to crack the starting lineup, and during last Friday’s scrimmage, he finally did it – at defensive end.
 Arclies measures at 6’5.  As a freshman, putting him at receiver was a no-brainer.  He’s tall, athletic, and has enormous hands.  But he never could get to first string.
  “I was in my head too much,” Arclies explained.  “On offense, you have to worry about so much.  On defense, you just run through people and attack the ball.”
Arclies’ defensive aspirations were born in the week of practice leading up to the scrimmage.  He didn’t practice defense though.  He was still a second-string wide receiver.  He just expressed his desire to do whatever it takes to get on the field.
“I had asked Coach Zenon if I could try defense because it’s my senior year,” Arclies said.  “I played offense my whole life.  I felt I needed to do something to get a starter position.”
During the scrimmage, Arclies caught a touchdown pass with the second-string offense. When he came off the field, head coach Johnathan Zenon told him to get back out there — as the first-string defensive end.
   “I got on the field and said to myself, ‘I don’t know how to play this position at all,’” Arclies said.  “I’m sure Coach wouldn’t get mad if I just busted through the line.
“The offensive lineman wasn’t a small person, but I’m way stronger than I look, so I went up confidently. When I busted through, the coaches were fired up, yelling that’s how you do it, Arclies! So, I just kept doing it.  Eventually, I learned to look for the ball and finished with four tackles.”
 This week, Arclies is no longer the second-string wide receiver.  He’s now the starting defensive end.  Zenon credits his work ethic and offensive knowledge for his success on defense.
“This guy gives 110 percent in everything he does,” Zenon said.  “Friday, he went on the defensive side, having never played it at all, and he did exactly what we needed him to do.”  
“At receiver, he had to block, so he knows how to use his hands.  He also knows how to watch the ball.  On offense, he sees the ball move, and he’s gone.  That jump off the ball gives him a huge advantage on defense.”
Zenon said it’s a testament to his character that Arclies stuck it out as long as he did.  He’s happy that his hard work is finally paying off, even though it doesn’t look how he thought it would.  He also believes that Arclies’ body type, 26 ACT score, and work ethic could land him a scholarship by season’s end.
“He never gave up,” Zenon said.  “That’s something we preach.  He’s very tough mentally because he did everything that was asked of him, and he still didn’t get an opportunity.  Now he’s on the defensive side and has a big role.
“I’m very proud of him.  I’m excited to see what he does this season.  I know he’s going to do great things.  If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, I see him getting a scholarship at the end of the year.”