Like many local football fans, Kirk Elsworth grow up idolzing Barry Sanders.
Today, Elsworth is dazzling Goodrich football fans in much the same way Sanders, a former Detroit Lion and recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, electrified Lions fans for a decade.
Elsworth is the engine that drives the Goodrich football team, currently ranked ninth in the state in Division 4 with a 3-1 record. The senior running back has rushed for about 900 yards and scored 16 touchdowns in four games this year.
Last season, Elsworth, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 208 lbs., ran for 1,845 yards and 24 touchdowns, and tallied 2,844 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns.
‘Kirk has certainly showcased his talent,? Goodrich coach Tom Alward said. ‘He has a great attitude and is a fine young man. He utilizes his God-given talent and is willing to work.?
Alward said the attributes that make Elsworth successful are good size and speed, strength, excellent vision, and a tough-nosed approach to the game.
Elsworth first started playing football in third grade as part of the Cowboys team in the Grand Blanc youth football league. Then as now, he played running back. He played three years on the Grand Blanc team, then spent a year in the Davison league before joining the eighth grade team at Goodrich Middle School.
During that period of time, Elsworth followed the exploits of Sanders each Sunday during the National Football League season.
‘He was very fun to watch,? Elsworth said.
Alward recalled watching Elsworth show a glimpse of things to come at Goodrich Middle School.
‘When we saw him on the middle school teams, he was very dominant there, but you don’t know how good he’s going to be at the high school level until he gets there,? he said.
When he arrived at Goodrich High School, Elsworth split time between the junior varsity and varsity teams before becoming a full-fledged varsity member his sophomore year. In addition to football, Elsworth also plays on the varsity basketball and baseball teams, and runs track.
Elsworth said there is no substitute for experience when it comes to getting better. ‘The plays come easier now,? he said. ‘I can help out the underclassmen, and my stance and form have improved.?
He said he has also received plenty of support on the home front from parents Richard and Rebecca and sisters Kirsten, 23; Kortni, 14; and Kyler, 12.
‘They encourage me and give me criticism at times,? he said.
As far as the rest of this season, Elsworth hopes to lead the Martians to the state playoffs and have a better rushing season than last year.
He said he has enjoyed the relationships he has developed with his Martian teammates.
‘We’re real close,? he said. ‘We call ourselves the Band of Brothers (after the cable television show of the same name). We do a lot of stuff off the field.?
Elsworth said the driving force behind him working as hard as he does is the opportunity to play football at the college level. A 3.0 student, he hopes to get into the fields of either physical therapy or sports medicine when he graduates from college.
For his part, Alward said there has been a ‘tremendous amount of interest? from colleges interested in Elsworth. He said Elsworth will definitely be playing football at the college level next year ? it’s just a matter of what college he decides to attend.
Alward also said he and the Goodrich coaching staff are helping Elsworth through the recruiting process.
‘It’s a tough decision for a young man to make,? Alward said.
Elsworth said he is grateful for the coaching staff’s help in dealing with that process. ‘They’re great ? they help with recruiting and getting my name out there. They’re real nice guys,? he said.
Elsworth said he has not decided on a particular college yet, but he leaves no doubt about what position he wants to play at the next level.
‘I’m just looking for whoever will give me a chance at running back,? he said.