While he certainly is athletic, Jeremy McLean is not one of those naturally-gifted athletes who can coast on athletic ability alone.
McLean is definitely athletic, but talk to his coaches and one thing is very clear: work ethic is a key cog in what makes him successful on the football field.
When Cliff Freeman first coached McLean a few seasons ago, McLean was about the middle of the pack when it came to the speed tests.
But soon, McLean was among the fastest players on Freeman’s team.
And that describes McLean perfectly: a hard worker who wills his way to success.
“He has worked his way up to where he is,” Freeman said. “Good work ethic, good kid.
“He is one of those guys, whatever he does, he will probably be successful just because he has such a hard work ethic.”
Freeman has coached McLean the past three years with the Langley Minor Football Association.
McLean is a converted defensive back, having played linebacker for his first few seasons.
The 16-year-old has played the sport for six years, but as the players around him grew, it became pretty evident that his body type — he is now six-foot-one and 175-pounds — was not suited for the rigours of playing linebacker.
But wanting to remain on the defensive side of the ball, McLean switched to defensive back.
“I was a little underweight,” he said. “(But) I didn’t want to abandon all those (defensive) drills.
“And everything just transitioned nicely for me.”
The move has paid off.
Last week, McLean was in Lethbridge, Alta. as part of Team B.C. at the U18 2011 Football Canada Cup. B.C. won bronze in the eight-team event.
“It was a big goal for me to make this team,” McLean admitted prior to leaving for the event.
“It was something I had to do or else (I knew) football wasn’t for me.
“I knew I should make it, talent-wise.”
He credits his ability to think the game and his foot speed as his greatest attributes.
“(Speed) is what the whole game is based on basically for me,” he said. “If I can’t keep up with the receiver, there is no point in even trying to cover him.”
McLean thanked his track coach for helping him work on his foot speed.
The fact he is succeeding in the game comes back to his work ethic.
“He has got a great work ethic,” said former CFLer Will Loftus, who has worked with McLean the past two years as part of Game Ready Fitness, a local youth development program that strives to instill confidence in its players, both on and off the field.
“When you tell him something, he is able to process it and put it to use on the field, so he is a great learner that way,” Loftus added.
“His speed has come, his footwork has come, he has taken all of the knowledge and been able to apply it to become one of the best players in the province for his age group.”
“He is a reliable guy who you know will do his job,” Freeman said, adding that McLean is more of a quiet leader on the field who lets his play do the talking.
McLean, who enters Grade 11 at Walnut Grove Secondary in September, is also moving up to the midget level with Langley Minor Football in the fall.
Beyond that, he has his sights set on playing university football.
“Sky’s the limit; it is whatever he wants to do with his potential,” Loftus said. “There are no barriers holding him back.
“As long as he stays healthy, he will be able to fulfill his dreams.”
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Former LMF player Jake Heathcote was also on the B.C. roster.
The Langley linebacker, who plays for Abbotsford’s W.J. Mouat Hawks, earned defensive player of the game honours in the team’s first game.
