Jared CohenThere aren’t many 14 year old incoming freshman football players out there that can line up face-to-face against guys three or more years older than him. This summer however, there is one that is proving he is willing and able.
Introduce Chaparral incoming freshman receiver Tommy Christakos who plans to turn some heads in 2016. At 6-2 and 170 pounds already, Christakos was out to earn the respect of his future Chaparral teammates this summer during passing league play.
“I think I did very well,” Christakos told Sports360AZ. “At first I was a little intimidated by the size and age of, I’m not going to say boys but men across the line. After the first game I knew I could work with the guys. As long as I worked my technique and with the help of my coaches I could be successful.”
In that first tournament of passing league play, Christakos mentioned there was a moment where he felt he was where he belonged despite being 14.
“I believe it was in the second game, they gave me a chance deep with the safety in the corner and double covered,” Christakos recalled. “I went up and caught it over two guys and came down with the ball and scored a touchdown. That was really the turning point and starting point of my career.”
It is not just at the wide receiving position that Christakos looks to compete for a starting job. He hopes to also be the teams kicker, punter and a kick returner. He has already put himself on the radar nationally with his ability to kick.
“Recently I kicked a 60 yarder with a one inch block at Chaparral High School,” explained Christakos. “I intend to compete for the starting job not only for wide receiver but for kicker also.”
Competing at the high school level is something the young Firebird has been looking forward to for a long time and he is eager to get his career at Chaparral off and running.
“It is coming pretty fast,” mentioned Christakos. “I mean, a few month ago I was just an eighth grader relaxing in my eighth grade classes and but now it has kind of hit me that I need to step up and take my responsibilities. Really just compete not only on the field but in the classroom as well.”
Christakos has been training and running one-on-one’s this July with guys who are soon to be varsity seniors and even some college level prospects. Building that confidence against older and more mature competition should provide quite the weapon right off the bat for quarterback Gryason Berry this fall.
