Styler Blackwell spent two years hearing the same joke from his coaches.
No hands. Everything was doink, doink off his fingertips.
The Polk County tight end would laugh it off, but he also went to work. This offseason, Blackwell dedicated himself to transforming his game. Better training. Better work ethic. Better hands.
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Now a junior, Blackwell has become the Wolverines’ most complete player — leading the team in both receiving and tackles through nine games.
“I think he took a huge leap forward in his game this year,” said Polk County head coach Dustin Fry. “Not only in his workouts and his work ethic in the offseason, how he trained in the summer, and then just the mentality going into the season.”
The numbers tell the story. As Polk County gears up for Friday’s regular-season finale against Hendersonville, Blackwell has caught 27 passes for 499 yards and four touchdowns while recording a team-high 79 tackles, four tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
“His hands have gotten so much better, and then what he can do after he catches the ball has been really nice to see,” Fry said. “He doesn’t go down easy on his first tackle. Usually, he’s looking to bounce off and usually can get some good (yards after catch).”
Blackwell’s journey to tight end took a few turns. He played running back in middle school and at that position as a freshman before the coaches moved him.
“I’d say it was a little weird at first, because I’m not used to catching the ball, just getting the ball on a handoff and just running people over,” Blackwell said. “But it’s a lot better because I’ve worked on my hands and catching the ball and looking the ball in and getting more yards after catch and yards after contact.”
As a three-year starter, Blackwell has become a fixture in Polk County’s lineup. That experience shows on the field.
“It’s his third year in the system,” Fry said. “You can put things in and he comes in and can figure out what we’re doing and remembers things in the past.”
Opposing teams have noticed. Blackwell now draws the same kind of attention that running back Loreynzo Sanchez receives.
“He’s one of those guys that now other teams are finding where he is,” Fry said. “He’s our leading receiver, we game plan for him. We tried to do some stuff that we’ve done for Loreynzo, which is use him to go the other way a little bit and draw guys.”
On defense, Blackwell has made stopping the run his mission.
“Our main focus this year on defense has been to be a lot better than we were last year,” he said. “Our pass defense is a lot better because of the secondary. My main focus this year has basically been stopping the run.”
The linebacker spot demanded more from Blackwell this season, and he answered.
“After sophomore year, you look at it, you’re like, okay, there needs to be in the linebacker spot the step up to get more tackles,” he said. “This year my head’s on a swivel for the running back and my head’s on a swivel for the passing game. If the (quarterback) hands it off, I’m just right down the line with a running back.”
Blackwell’s impact extends beyond statistics. His teammates voted him a captain as a junior, a rare honor that reflects his leadership.
“To be voted as a team captain your junior year, that says a lot for what they think about him and who he is,” Fry said. “And I look for that to even grow even more next year and him to be that true leader that runs the show.”
Leadership runs in the family for Blackwell.
“Being a leader, I’ve always had my older brother (Cameron) and my family. I’ve always looked up to them,” he said. “So looking to be a leader, it’s kind of become my thing, just to get the guys to go and remind them the game’s not over until it’s over.”
