The metaphors and juxtapositions of the gridiron and life are many. While football is a game, it’s a game that creates an iron will among its players that forges success in the unpredictable events of life. Losing is part of the game, but players and coaches fight through and hopefully improve. However, sometimes it takes time to get through the losing, and a player’s resolve is tested while competing and not knowing when the effort will result in a victory.
Bradwell Institute senior defensive end KJ Milner has been the proverbial “Man in the Arena” Teddy Roosevelt described. Milner had a front row seat to understanding what it means to battle adversity when his first two seasons with the Tigers resulted in 20 straight losses. But just like Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts…. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.” And Milner played with stronger conviction to get through adversity, knowing better days lay ahead.
“I started playing when I was 7 years old, and once I got the hang of it and found out how to play, I became a beast with the help of my father being tough on me,” Milner said. “Once I seen that I was already natural at playing, when I was young I became serious and knew I had the potential to be something great with the encouragement of my mother.”
His father initially inspired Milner’s determination on the football field, a determination solidified by coaches who taught him that the next play is always the most important.
“A previous coach told me before that the most important play is the next play, so I use the past losing seasons as a form of motivation to get better, grind harder, and to not repeat,” Milner said.
The same motivation and determination Milner displays on the football field are just as apparent in the classroom.
“KJ is a great kid with a very high upside, both academically and athletically,” said Ross Couch, Bradwell Institute first-year head coach. “In the classroom, KJ has one of the highest GPAs (3.8) on the team, and he’s worked hard to create relationships with his teachers. Performing well academically is important to KJ, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to succeed in that venue.”
Unlike most high school athletes, Milner plays something every season. Besides playing football, he plays basketball and runs track, but playing defensive end in football is his passion. His favorite player is former Carolina defensive end Javedon Clowney.
“When you talk to KJ, he doesn’t say much,” Couch said. “He’s quiet. He’s reserved. He just puts in work. When he’s on the field, he’s the same way. His actions do the talking for him.”
Milner knows his position so well that he can envision his exact movements in a split second before the ball is snapped: “First, I line myself up with the outside shoulder tackle and put my left hand or right hand down depending on what side. Second, I watch the ball and wait for it to snap. When snapped, I shoot my hands to the tackle to keep them from blocking me, and instantaneously I read what type of block he is doing to react. Third, I become violent with my hands to stop them from blocking me. Fourth, if the tackle tries to reach me, then I want to get outside leverage and try to force it back in. If it’s a down block, squeeze the tackle down, look in, and fill the gap and make the play. If I get a scoop block, then I follow the inside hip of the tackle in pursuit to the ball. If I get a pass block, I use my go-to move to get past the tackle to the quarterback.”
Milner and the Tigers finally grabbed a couple of wins, including their first region win in years against Brunswick. A regime change at the end of the season brought back Ross Couch. Couch brought in a new staff, and for the first time in years the Tigers have a full staff of certified coaches with the majority teaching at Bradwell Institue.
“We know what Bradwell used to be and have been currently in a slump, but we will change it around,” Milner said. “Most of the team was feeling discouraged because we were losing a good amount of seniors, but we realized we have to step up to the plate and get the job done.”
Newfound purpose and energy gave the Tigers a good summer, but Milner and his teammates know that it will take more than just a good summer to be ready for Region 3-AAAAAA.
“In my opinion, our region is one of the most competitive in Georgia because we play teams that include several top D1 athletes,” Milner said. “That’s still not an excuse for us not to beat them because we have just as much talent as they do. It’s all about the heart.”
By W. John Wood
