Reticent Wildcat a loud force on the field

“I don’t know,” El Dorado senior Takoi Steward said when asked about his unusual first name. “I think they said my sister named me. Koi, the last three letters, is named for a fish.”

There may or may not be something more to that story. Steward didn’t elaborate a lot during an interview about himself despite insisting he’s a vocal leader on the field.

Goals this season?

“I don’t really have no goals. Just play to the limit, really.”

What’s his role on the defense?

“Get in gaps.”

Steward punctuated most of his concise answers with a laugh.

As the cliché goes, the 290-pound nose guard lets his play speak for him. The Wildcats hope he’s as loud on the field this season.

“He’s the cornerstone,” said defensive line coach Jimmy Johnson. “If he does what he’s supposed to do, they’ll have to have at least two people blocking him. And one’s carrying the ball so there’s two free hitters somewhere because Takoi is doing what he’s supposed to do.”

Last season, Steward recorded 37.5 tackles. That included 8.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks. For a nose guard, that’s good production.

“Takoi is really a strong kid,” said defensive coordinator Wes Ables. “We’re going to move him around a lot. He’ll play all three positions on the defensive line. Sometimes we may go to a four-man front. We’ll move him around as needed. He’s somebody that, he’s got the tools you can’t teach - the physical tools of being big and strong as he is and as explosive. When you’ve got an explosive defensive lineman that can power clean three hundred and something pounds, that’s a tool that you can utilize as a defensive coordinator.”

Steward said he worked hard in the weight room during the off-season. He boasted a bench press of 315, power clean of 330 and a squat of 500 pounds.

“He’s been a beast in the weight room and he enjoys working there. He likes being strong. He likes being one of the strongest people in the room,” said Johnson. “It’s not just a pride thing. It’s a competition thing. He likes to compete against people that are close to him. He doesn’t want to go against people who don’t give him any competition. He wants to get better and make them better.”

Steward talked about the importance of upper body strength when playing on the interior of the line.

“It’s very important. You’re going to have people bigger than you on the line or the same size,” he said.

Another area he’s worked to improve is, “Shoot my hands more. I’ve been working on my hands. When you shoot your hands, you get more leverage. You get to move them. Last year, I wasn’t really doing that.”

Steward was one of three brothers who started on El Dorado’s defense last year, joining twin linebackers Jyrin and Javin, who graduated. He said his older siblings have already talked to him about keeping the family tradition going.

“It’s something about family. You really feel it. You’ve got something to play for,” he said. “It’ll be different. I’m ready for it, though. I’m ready.”

Steward helped the Wildcats win the state track title last season and beat his older brothers when he won the conference championship in the discus.

How did that feel?

“It felt good,” he said laughing. “It felt good.”

Is he satisfied after winning the football championship last year?

“I’m still hungry. I want another one.”

Why?

“I’ve been working hard. I deserve it.”

O.K. So Steward won’t be the first choice on the team for public speaking engagements.

El Dorado’s coaches say he’d be too busy anyway. The Wildcats plan to use Steward this season - a lot.

“He can play everywhere. He’s got speed. He’s got strength. He’s hard to deal with. He was hard to deal with last year,” said Johnson. “And, he’s only gotten better. He’s relentless and he has fun playing football. It’s important to him.

“He knows all three positions we’ve got, the anchor, the nose and the dingo. He’s moving from one side to the other so they can’t say we’ll not run there or we’ll not run there.”

Steward summed up why he enjoys battling in the middle of the defensive line.

“When a running back comes through the middle, I can have a chance to light him up.”

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