Deerfield junior Quinn Schimanski has kept his eyes wide open.
Although Schimanski was an all-conference linebacker last season, he knew becoming the Warriors’ featured running back, never mind being successful, wouldn’t happen overnight.
“Especially during camp, it was a big learning process,” he said. “As I got more reps, I got more comfortable and eventually got the hang of it.
“I’m really thankful for the opportunity, and I really enjoy the physicality of it.”
That’s one reason Schimanski excelled at linebacker. Of course, he’s on the other end of contact this season.
“Playing running back definitely takes more of a toll on your body,” he said. “My elbow has been bruised since the second week, and my knee has been swollen for a couple of weeks. But you have to live with those little things. They’re not going away as long as I’m running the ball.”
Schimanski running the ball is a large part of Deerfield’s plan for the remainder of this season and beyond. He has rushed for 918 yards and seven touchdowns for the Warriors (4-3, 1-2), who are in their first season in the more competitive Central Suburban South.
Schimanski went over 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games, when he showed both durability with 66 combined carries and big-play ability with 59- and 47-yard runs.
Schimanski also has 21 catches for 283 yards and three TDs, making him a key target in a passing game that features junior quarterback Mac Jones and four other juniors with at least 20 receptions each.
“He’s a fantastic athlete, but he’s put in the time necessary and immersed himself in it,” Deerfield coach Steve Winiecki said of Schimanski. “He’s very serious about his craft and practices every day to get better. He’s been everything we thought he could be and then some.”
More Top Picks Moosoo Xl 618a
Among the ways Schimanski prepared for the role, he attended a weekly instructional workshop for running backs he had heard about in west suburban Willowbrook. He learned how to run in tight quarters and how to burst through a hole, among other things.
“Since we hadn’t started practice yet, that was the first time I was really coached up as a running back,” he said. “It helped me see everything through the perspective of a runner.”
That perspective has given Schimanski an appreciation for the offensive unit and the cohesiveness required to move forward.
“On every play, everyone is dependent on each other, and what everyone is doing matters,” he said. “Even if you’re away from the ball, what you do is important to the success of the play.”
That’s not to say Schimanski can’t make things happen on his own. Capable of showcasing a variety of skills on a single play, Schimanski recalls one during Deerfield’s 21-16 win against Township High School District 113 rival Highland Park on Sept. 1.
“There was a long touchdown where I broke a few tackles and made a few guys miss,” he said. “That was one where the hard work definitely translated onto the field.”
Schimanski, whose older sister Riley was a standout soccer player for the Warriors, has impressed his teammates.
Senior tackle Aral Sezgun, like anyone who spends time around the program, is keenly aware of Schimanski’s physical tools, which he also puts to use as the starting point guard for the Deerfield boys basketball team.
Sezgun also points to Schimanski’s ability to read blocks and his field vision as being particularly strong. But Sezgun emphasized certain intangibles.
“He’s really good about asking questions if he’s not sure about something, especially in an area like pass protection,” Sezgun said. “He’s not playing for himself. He wants what’s best for everyone on the team.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.