Oak Forest’s Neiko LeFlore, a senior running back/defensive back, refuses to be typecast.
Don’t tell him he has to play a certain way or be a specific sort of player. As someone who rarely comes off the field, LeFlore leverages the mathematical possibilities to produce bigger plays.
“I think when you play both offense and defense, it just gives you a look from both sides,” he said. “I’ve always liked offense better, but I’ve really learned to love getting dialed in on defense.”
He was definitely dialed in Friday night.
LeFlore struck paydirt with a 5-yard touchdown run set up by his own interception, helping to ignite the host Bengals in a 66-0 South Suburban Blue victory over Bremen.
Senior running backs William McMaster and Davian Picon and senior quarterback Ethan Copher also scored TDs in the first half as Oak Forest (5-4, 4-2) handed Bremen (1-8, 1-5) its fourth straight loss by shutout.
LeFlore, meanwhile, improved his season total to 10 TDs. He has intercepted two passes.
“He’s the best cornerback in the conference,” Oak Forest coach Zachary Sadek said. “He has a very high ceiling defensively. He’s probably had 10 balls thrown at him the whole season.
“Teams always throw to the other side.”
Copher pointed to LeFlore’s two-way contributions as key for Oak Forest.
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“He’s a giant piece of the team who commands the defense and brings the energy on offense,” Copher said of LeFlore. “He turns negative plays into touchdowns and is a selfless blocker.”
LeFlore is also a point guard in basketball and runs sprints in track. He’s never idle or gets tired. In addition to playing both sides of the ball, he returns kickoffs and punts.
“You always worry about kids going both ways, but he never takes plays off and always finds the energy,” Sadek said. “He’s the ultimate competitor.”
Last season as a junior, LeFlore played primarily running back. In adapting his athleticism to the varsity level, he learned how to fit in. He was comfortable in a secondary role.
“I was new and I could let my seniors control the offense and defense,” he said. “Now, I have a bigger part on both sides of the ball. I’m a leader and I have to talk the most.”
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Leflore combines excellent burst and quickness with an ability to get into space. McMaster is most effective getting yards between the tackles, but LeFlore is pure speed.
“He takes the hard yards and I get the outside runs,” LeFlore said of McMaster. “The most important lesson I’ve learned is practicing hard every week and not going through the motions.”
Outgoing and studious, LeFlore lists forensic science as his favorite subject. It carries over.
“If you want to win and be a great player, you have to do it,” LeFlore said. “Putting my life on the line, pushing the ball in, making red zone plays, it all comes down to the effort.”
LeFlore has been around the game formally since age 5. His grandfather, father, several uncles and cousins all played. He showed early promise in youth leagues with HF United.
Football became the perfect outlet for his creativity, freedom and desire to improve.
“The game is like my second home,” he said. “If I ever have any problems, I just go and play.”
He has an offer from NCAA Division II Roosevelt but hopes to attract some larger programs.
“I want to play at the Division I level,” he said.
And while playing three sports year-round is taxing on the body, but he only sees the upside.
“It’s a lot of work and it’s tiring sometimes,” LeFlore said. “Track helps the other two sports. I always know what to look for or what to do — go out and have fun and do the right thing.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.