ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Michael McClenton

Ocoee High School sophomore outside linebacker Michael McClenton has had a season to remember with the Knights. McClenton has had a total of 126 tackles — 31 for losses. Even better: He has 20 quarterback sacks in only six games.

What do you believe has been working out for you defensively to get all those tackles? 
Our new scheme, it’s just our scheme. We are just running around to get to the ball. 

What is the highest number of tackles you’ve ever had in a game? 
Twenty-six. It was actually at this field in little league last year.

How did you get into football? 
All my brothers and my dad played in the NFL. I have a cousin in the NFL, so I’ve always been playing football. 

What is your favorite thing about your team? 
The brotherhood that we have built. 

Have there been any challenges for you over the years? 
Just getting over injuries that I have had in my recent past. 

What do you love most about football as a sport? 
I love bonding with my teammates — just coming together with new guys that you can just meet or just bringing out different people that you can just come together with and play as one. 

What do you believe football has taught you on and off the field? 
It teaches me a lot of leadership. Being able to lead other people or help other people out when they don’t know what they are doing, mostly by telling the other kids that if they see a teammate down, to pick him up, and if they see someone doing the wrong thing, tell them how to do it right. 

What do you think about when you are in the middle of a game in the line of scrimmage? 
“Let’s go make a play.”

What is your favorite hobby? 
I love playing basketball. 

Who is your favorite NFL player? Why? 
Micah Parsons. He just loves to run around, fly and get to the quarterback (and) make a lot of plays. 

If you get to the NFL, where would you like to play?
I’d like to play for the Dallas Cowboys, because my dad used to play for them. 

What are three things you would take with you to a deserted island? 
I would bring a football, my phone and my teammates. 

Looking back, what would you say to your 10-year-old self? 
I would say drink some milk. They always say milk strengthens your bones, (and) I just feel my bones aren’t as strong as they could be right now. 

If you could write a letter to your future self, what would you say? 
(I would say to myself) that I can be as good as I want to be. 

What is your biggest fear?
Never play another game of football, because football just takes my mind off of everything. So, if I don’t play football, what else am I going to do? So, I just keep thinking the same thing over and over. 

What is your favorite type of music? 
I love to listen to rap (music). 

Who is you favorite superhero? Why? 
I like Superman, I just always had a feeling for Superman. I used to wear Superman cleats (when I was younger). 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? 
I would love to be able to read minds. It’d be cool to know information that would be useful to me. 

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why? 
I’d like to visit Bora Bora, Jamaica and The Bahamas. I just want to go see what they have to offer. 

If you could go back in time to a specific period in history, which one would it be and why? 
I’d like to go back to the early 2000s. I just feel like when I look at stuff from that generation, it looks like everything is so old and good. 

What color would you say represents your personality? Why?
I’d say gray, It’s a very cool color.

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be and why? 
A  dog, I just think they are cool. So, it’d be cool to be a dog.