Ozark has welcomed back Laine Emmerth as a running back.
After sitting out his junior season a year ago, Emmerth is playing a new position as a senior. He’s receiving handoffs for the first time, after receiving snaps from center as a quarterback his entire career.
He’s enjoying the change.
“It takes stress off of me. I'm having more fun in general,” Emmerth said. “For a quarterback, you have to know what everyone is doing. You're managing the whole offense. As a running back, I don't have to know what everyone is doing. I just have to do my job and go 100 percent.”
Under former Ozark coach Chad Depee and his option attack, Emmerth a few years ago looked to be Ozark’s quarterback of the future. He rushed for a touchdown in a late-game, fill-in role as a freshman.
But with coach Jeremy Cordell bringing a more pass-oriented offense to the Tigers last summer, Emmerth was beaten out for the starting signal-caller’s job by upstart Peyton Russell.
Once it became clear Russell was Ozark’s QB, Emmerth was approached with the idea of moving to running back.
He originally nixed the notion.
“Last year, (former offensive coordinator Justin Peery) and coach Cordell had a meeting with me and they brought up me playing running back,” Emmerth said. “I didn't think much of it. But after I quit, I started thinking about it. Here I am. I made the decision to come back and I'm starting to like it.”
Emmerth is responding well enough to the change that he and junior Rory Banks are sharing reps at running back with the first-team offense.
They’re a contrast in styles, with Emmerth being a methodical, physical runner and Banks being quick and relying on finesse.
“I'm more of a contact running back,” Emmerth said. “I don't like to make moves. I like the hitting.”
Ozark’s depth at running back took a hit earlier this summer when promising sophomore Seth Baker injured a knee.
Emmerth is adjusting to blocking for the first time.
“As a quarterback, you obviously don't block at all, so my first days of hitting, I was having to get used to it,” he said. “It’s gotten easier with a lot of practice. Our running backs coach (Elliott Ginn) used to be an O-lineman. He helps us with a lot of techniques on how to be more efficient blocking.”
Naturally, Emmerth is thrilled to be back alongside his teammates.
“I was kind of iffy about it,” he said of returning to the gridiron. “But It’s awesome. All my buddies, we're having fun.”
