FOOTBALL PROFILE: The Basics

Position: Running back

Year: Senior (Class of 2022)

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 175 pounds

2021 Stats (5 games): 88 attempts, 351 yards, 4 TD; 7 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD

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INTRODUCTION: 5 Quick Questions

Q: Why did you choose your number?

“It just stood out to me. I’ve had it for just my junior and senior year and I just picked it. I like the smaller numbers.”

Q: What is your favorite uniform combination?

“I would have to say the new Jordans.”

Q: Do you have any family connection to the OHS football program?

“Nope, no connections.”

Q: Are you involved in any other sports or activities?

“Baseball, and I have probably been playing that the longest. I started playing both sports (baseball and football) as early as I could. Maybe third grade.”

Q: Memorable phase frequently used by any coach:

“Everybody up!”

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INTERVIEW: Getting to Know Dylan Maas

Q: Last year, Tanner Hall was pretty much the top running back from the start based on how well he played as a junior and there wasn’t a ton of pressure on you. This year is different. Talk about what it was like entering this season compared to last season.

“Yeah, I didn’t get as many reps last year, so I wasn’t known at the varsity level and the style was different. But this year it’s a lot easier for me personally. It’s coming to me quicker and I have to be that guy.”

Q: One could argue that there is a lot of pressure being a running back in this system. How do you deal with that?

“I just shut it out, block it all out. When I am out there on the field, honestly, it’s quiet to me.”

Q: Talk about your offensive line and how much they have developed throughout the season, especially over the last couple of weeks.

 “The holes have opened up a lot, actually. They are getting their rhythm down and making things easier for me.”

Q: You are known for your speed, but you have shown some toughness recently and started picking up tough yards. Is that something you have tried to work on since joining the varsity rotation last year? Have you tried to bulk-up?

“This year I kind of feels like my breakout year. It’s my last year, senior season, so I have just been trying to go as hard as I can no matter what. I don’t care if I get hurt — just plow through people if I can.”

Q: It seems like on your long runs you find an extra gear. It that something you can sense when you get into the open field, or does it just happen so fast you don’t think much of it?

“It is an adrenaline rush, and it just happens. You can feel when defenders are behind you, and you just sense something that you need to keep on going and find that little extra speed. It’s a good feeling.”

Q: You have also become a big part of the passing game catching the ball out of the backfield. Is that something you have worked on in the offseason?

“Yeah, for sure. I have been getting involved a lot more. Last week (against Northfield) there was one play where it’s designed for me to be wide open, but there was a couple guys around me and I just needed to make the catch in traffic. That’s fun.”

Q: This year, as a team, you guys are starting to come together and have won three of the last four games. How does it feel now compared to after losing to Mankato West (and dropping to 1-2 overall)?

“The week before against Century (in Week 2), yeah, we could have had a way better game, but we still found a way to win. And then we knew we had West and needed to work really hard and we still got lost by a lot, so that was tough. But I knew we had to get our team chemistry down and these last two games have shown a lot, but we still have a lot of work to do.”