‘Always positive’: Highland football’s Nauman puts in the work
Thursday, September 7, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Highland senior Dane Nauman holds program records for career rushing yards (6,193), single season rushing yards (2,532) and single game rushing yards (366). Photo: John Hulkenberg
When coach Ty Stover sent out a message gauging interest in some extra film work ahead of the Highland football team’s game against Ashland Crestview, he knew Dane Nauman would show up to his house.
Stover also knew Nauman wouldn’t come alone. The senior two-way player at running back and linebacker doesn’t miss an opportunity to do more.
It’s part of the reason he already holds program records in all-time rushing yards (6,193), season rushing yards (2,532) and single game rushing yards (366).
“He wants more to make those around him better,” Stover said. “I threw a text out to a group of guys last week saying that I was having a volunteer film session at my house. He shows up at the house with three guys that he had picked up. His athletic ability – to people that don’t know him – shines above his character. But if you know him, (his) character before (his) athletic ability.”
Nauman feels like watching film gives him a leg up in practice. Practice better, play better. He ran 16 times for 309 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-26 win over the Cougars on Sept. 1.
“(Film is) very important because you need to understand what the team is doing,” he said. “I texted some of the guys that were struggling at practice to come and watch film. If you watch a lot of film, you know what you’re going to be doing the next day (in practice).
“My freshman and sophomore year, I didn’t watch film as much. When I started watching film my junior year, I understood the game a lot more and what to do. I’ve become better at playing football because of watching film.”
Highland senior Dane Nauman (42) had 16 carries for 309 yards and four touchdowns to help the Fighting Scots improve to 3-0 with a 50-26 win over Ashland Crestview on Sept. 1. Photo courtesy of Shawna Church/Highland football team
For the season, he has 56 carries for 620 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground along with four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Fighting Scots, who are 3-0 overall entering their MOAC-opener at Marion Pleasant on Sept. 8.
“He’s a monster,” Stover said. “A lot of people don’t realize how good he is on defense. He’s equally as good on defense as he is on offense. He’s one that just accepts everything you ask him to do. He apologizes when he makes a mistake. But when he makes a mistake, it’s at 100 miles per hour. You couldn’t ask for a better kid and you couldn’t ask for a better player and a better person to be in the program.”
But he’s quick to give credit to his teammates. Highland averages 9.7 yards per carry and 282.3 yards per game. Junior Sam Hernandez is the second leading rusher with 14 carries for 198 yards and a touchdown.
The Scots rotate seniors David Condron (C), Clayton Vandyke (OG), Isaiah Smith (OG) and Ethan Taylor (OT), juniors Bryan Mullins (OT) and Gavin Wiggand (OG) and sophomores Clai Mitchell (OG) and Hunter Taylor (OT) on the offensive line.
“One of the (reasons) we have such high rushing (yardage) is we have a really good line and a really good passing game,” Nauman said. “We can run the ball really well and when (opponents) stack the box, we can just throw outside a little bit. We have a really good passing game.”
Junior Kolton Stover, the coach’s son and Highland’s quarterback, is one of Nauman’s closest friends on the team. Kolton Stover is 29-for-55 passing for 478 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions with junior Kadyn Reichenback as his top target with 10 catches for 246 yards and three scores.
Highland senior RB/LB Dane Nauman has rushed for 620 yards and seven touchdowns on 56 carries on offense and 16 tackles and a sack on defense for the Fighting Scots, who are 3-0. Photo courtesy of Shawna Church/Highland football team
“(Dane) is an awesome person to be around,” the quarterback said. “He’s always positive, always a leader and always having fun. He’s a great person to be around. He lightens the mood. When he walks in, he’s making everybody smile. He makes life better.”
The extra work isn’t limited to the film room. Nauman spends extra time at practice working with his father, Demetrius Totton, on speed and agility. Totton, who also works with other Highland football players, ran track at Lindenwood University.
The two spent time training in the high altitude of Colorado as well as the high heat of Houston.
The endurance has helped Nauman be able to go both ways, playing linebacker on defense where he has 16 tackles and a sack. Senior Landon Hayes (LB) leads the Scots with 26.5 tackles.
It’s not all hard work for Nauman. He spent time with a bunch of teammates at Zoombezi Bay and the Columbus Zoo on Sept. 3 – one final free day before school started on Sept. 5.
“We just swam in the lazy river, went down the water slides and played some basketball,” Nauman said. “We always have a great time together. It’s good having team bonding – I think that’s what helps us become a great team. We bond and have that connection together.”