For three years Chase Steele has hit, passed and kicked balls for East Ridge.
One of the school’s most versatile athletes, the senior has played football, baseball and soccer in addition to wrestling.
“I took off from wrestling in 2009 and I was planning on doing soccer and baseball but then got hurt, so I didn’t play much baseball,” Steele said. “Still, though, I ran track.”
Football is his first love, however.
“I grew up watching it, and the first time I ever touched the ball as a 7-year-old I scored a touchdown,” he said. “I love the crowds, the support and being out there with other guys who love it. Football provides a great atmosphere.”
Football also has given Steele a chance to show his diversification.
“He can play several positions, and he’s a guy on special teams that can hurt people,” Pioneers coach Mike Martin said.
Steele will get some time at quarterback and wide receiver but will spend most of his plays at running back alongside fellow senior Brevante King.
“Chase also will play cornerback and safety on defense, he returns kicks and he’s one of two that return punts,” Martin said.
From opening kickoff till final gun, Steele’s only time off the field will be at halftime and when the Pioneers are kicking extra points.
Athletics are in his genes. His grandfather, John Phillips, was a teacher and legendary track coach at GPS; one uncle coached softball at Ringgold; his great uncle (Mike Steele) coached football at East Ridge with Raymond James – so it should come as no surprise regarding Steele’s future.
“I want to be a teacher and a coach,” he said.
Before he gets there, though, there is a senior season, one he hopes will be even more successful than last year’s run into the playoffs.
“I want to go full-tilt,” he said. “As a team one of our goals is to not take any plays off, which we did some last year. We want to win more games and go deeper in the playoffs. We also want to get better at overcoming adversity.”
A 3.0 student, Steele wants to improve on his 2009 personal performance, which included 620 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards and nine touchdownss. He also hopes to attract college recruiters.
“I went to two or three camps and I ran a 4.5 40 at one, but I haven’t had much interest (shown),” he confided.
He started as a freshman and has played both ways since his sophomore year. The 5-foot-8, 175-pounder has never missed a game, and he hopes the Pioneers’ senior season makes it hard for college teams to ignore him.