Welcome to showtime.
Batavia’s Jalen Buckley had a taste as a sophomore, being promoted to the varsity for a 2019 quarterfinal playoff run and soaking in everything behind a talented group of seniors.
It whet his appetite, which wasn’t fully satisfied last spring by a delayed and shortened season featuring a game-day experience saddled with COVID-19 restrictions.
“I’m extremely hyped,” Buckley said this week during preparations for a season opener Friday at home against Public League powerhouse Phillips. “I’ve never played a Friday night game in the fall with a full student section and packed bleachers.”
Batavia coach Dennis Piron enters his 11th season needing just two wins to reach 100, with a streak of nine straight playoff appearances that includes two state titles and two state semifinal appearances.
A talented two-way senior standout at safety and running back, Buckley should feature prominently in what could be another star-studded cast for the Bulldogs.
Buckley was the team’s second-leading runner in the spring with 349 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry, adding three catches for 84 yards and another TD.
On defense, he had 25 tackles, three quarterback hurries, two passes defended, a fumble recovery and one interception, which he returned 51 yards for the team’s only TD during a 16-7 loss in the DuKane Conference championship game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
“He’s just so natural and reads things so well he can bait the quarterback,” Batavia defensive coordinator Matt Holm said, recalling the pick six. “He’s like a little kid playing in the backyard and taking over.
“He’s such a ballhawk and very natural. He does that in our practices and 7-on-7s all the time, just comes out of nowhere.”
Buckley and inside linebacker Tyler Jansey will team up to anchor a talented group for Holm.
“Matt is just a genius, running the defense and breaking down what an offense is going to do,” Buckley said.
Junior Ryan Whitwell will man the other safety spot. They will be flanked on the corners by Indiana State commit Tony Roberts, who had three interceptions in the spring, and senior speedster Vincie Solano.
“Whitwell is definitely an athlete,” Buckley said. “He can contribute offensively and defensively. I think he’s like me in that respect.
“Tony, you can put him on any guy and he’ll lock him down, and Solano is good in man coverage, too. With them and our linebackers, our speed is insane. So is the athleticism of the whole defense.”
Jansey, who has a scholarship offer from Wisconsin, will be joined inside by senior Drew Bartels, a third-year starter with offers from Eastern Illinois and Ball State. The outside linebackers will be juniors Jack Sadowsky and Brody Osborne, who also are drawing recruiting interest.
“The linebackers can fly around,” Piron said.
It’s challenging for Holm, since several players in his linebacking crew and defensive backfield can see spot duty or more on offense and may need to be spelled by backups.
“Hey, we want to score,” Holm said. “We don’t mind the offense using guys like Buckley. Teams have to account for him when he’s out there.”
Holm doesn’t label either safety as strong or free.
“Both can play equally in the box,” Holm said. “And both can pressure the quarterback as a pass rusher or cover.”
And his cornerbacks?
“Roberts is very good in space and able to play bump and run,” Holm said. “Solano has flexibility, can play both safety and corner, and Bartels can even move in as a third safety.
“The flexibility of these kids is what’s so fun. There’s so many things they can do. It may look like one thing and be another because of how much they spend studying.”
None more so than Buckley, who has an offer from Eastern Illinois along with interest from several other schools, including Northern Illinois and Illinois.
Piron said he ranks with Quinn Urwiler (North Dakota), Luke Weerts (North Dakota State) and Matt Weerts (Arizona) in that manner.
“Jalen has been a versatile weapon wherever we put him, on offense or defense,” Piron said. “He compares well to other highly rated players we’ve had.
“He’s a baller.”
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Team: Batavia.
Spring record: 4-2.
Offensive leaders: Jalen Buckley, senior, RB; Josh Dornink, senior, RB; Spencer Prats, senior, OL; AJ Sanders, senior, WR.
Defensive leaders: Fikayo Afolarin, senior, DL; Drew Bartels, senior, LB; Tyler Jansey, junior, LB; Tony Roberts, senior DB.
Playoff history: Twenty-three playoff appearances, including nine straight under coach Dennis Piron.