Rhett Nietert led a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting with the opening scripture reading Monday morning. Nietert does not mind having all eyes, and especially all ears, focused on him.
Especially as a starter at free safety – he drew the top receiver for Harmony Grove Ouachita County last week – after working as a cornerback in junior high.
“I like safety better. I get to tell people what to do,” said Nietert.
Head Coach Doc Crowley would not have it any other way.
“Rhett has done a really good job for us this year,” said Crowley. “He’s a very intelligent kid and understands every position on the field. He’s like having a coach on the field.”
As a sophomore.
Obviously Nietert means giving orders in the context of the secondary and defensive ends coverage for a given defensive call, but, as was the case when called on to lead Monday’s meeting, Nietert is ever ready for any type of dialog.
“I love that kid. He is one of the wittiest and funniest kids I’ve ever been around,” said Crowley. “If you are going to give him a hard time or get after him a little bit, you better be ready because he’s going to give it right back to you.”
Yes, that includes opponents, through the so-called trash talk, but as Crowley noted, is typically initiated by the opposition.
“When they talk first, I’ll talk a little bit,” said Nietert. “When they make me mad, I’ll talk a little bit.”
That may be an understatement.
For instance, in one game while he was manning the quarterback position an opponent claimed the Bearcats old school offense was unimaginative, among other things, and, “they run the same dang play every time,” Nietert said.
“I looked at him and said if we run the same play then stop this – it's a touchdown.” Nietert said his response was after tiring of the comments.
The next play was indeed a touchdown carry of 9 yards, by Nietert. It was his second rushing score of the season.
As a receiver, Nietert has made five catches for 32 yards. He has also completed one pass.
Besides being the free safety, a wide receiver, and backup quarterback, Nietert is involved in all special teams, being the placekicker holder foremost.
On a lot of nights that means no breaks.
“In the last game I didn’t play much receiver because we had a lot of tight end packages and I was really gassed honestly,” said Nietert. “(Harmony Grove) ran a lot of long, extended routes.”
As the holder, nothing happens until Nietert says so – calls for the snap. He took over the holder’s job this season and has held for 66 PAT and five field goal attempts, including Juan Moreno’s 46-yard kick which is second longest field goal in school history and another field goal of 36 yards last Friday.
Drawing some of the more difficult receivers, Nietert did not have an interception in the regular season. He had one in both the first and second round playoff games and with two is now the team leader but he likes to talk about a different play from the playoffs.
“One of the funniest plays was (against) Osceola. He throws it up. I was in coverage. It was the D-end’s guy but luckily there was pressure to the left and he turned around and threw it right I ran over swatted it down.
“I started celebrating like crazy and Colter (Fisher) started celebrating like crazy – those (Osceola) guys obviously didn’t love it. “
If Nietert is talking, it is usually a good thing for the Bearcats.
“But I like playing in those games because the atmosphere was so good and they talked a lot – everyone, the coaches, the players, the fans,” he said.
Nietert expects much the same noise level on Friday, and he was already immersing himself into preparation over the weekend.
“They’re a big run team. Their defense is pretty salty. The quarterback is good, the running back is really good,” said Nietert.
Nietert was responsible for the first defensive touchdown of the year, a 48-yard fumble return against Hackett.
“When I picked (the fumble) up I had a seam and a couple good blocks and ended up scoring it was really cool,” said Nietert.
Now in his third year in the program Nietert loves it here. He even has his family, most of them anyway, in the royal purple of Booneville High School.
“My whole family is pretty committed to Booneville now,” said Nietert. “Even my brother (older and Magazine graduate Reese) is wearing a purple hoodie too. My uncle’s not, he’s in black Carhart but all my grandparents, even the ones from Ozark, are supporting us.”
The holdouts do hear about it, of course he admits with a grin.
Besides mom Robin and dad Taylor, the immediate family also includes a sister who is a third grade student at Booneville Elementary, and if you really want to get Nietert to talking, insist Ramsey will be the best athlete of the family.
“No way,” said Nietert. “That is not true.”
Ultimately the future will tell that tale, but Nietert really does not like to talk too much about what is yet to be determined, at least not past this Friday and what will be the biggest game he has played in to date.
Still it is apparent to Crowley and to his parents, that Nietert has the makings of a coach.
Nietert would not concede that is the path but did offer, “something in sports,” as a career goal.
In addition to football Nietert also plays baseball. He hit second and played second base as a freshman and, you might have guessed, is quite vocal both on the diamond and in the dugout.
“He’s an incredibly gifted kid. I’m very excited to watch him continue to grow on the football field and baseball field as well,” said Crowley. “Rhett Nietert is going to be a huge part of this program’s success moving forward.”
Baseball is a sport he hopes to play even after the graduates.
“That’s the plan I want to go play in college,” he said.
NIETERT WALKS THE WALK, REALLY TALKS THE TALK
