Norman North QB Owen Eshelman making huge strides after emergency start in last season's playoffs
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA - The start to Owen Eshelman’s career as a starting quarterback couldn’t have been any more precarious.
Stepping into the Norman North lineup for an injured Kamden Sixkiller in the first round of the 6AI playoffs was as big as it gets for a rookie.
While the Timberwolves went on to lose, 41-34, to Owasso and end their 2022 season, North coach Justin Jones was impressed with the poise Eshelman showed.
Now, almost a full year after that first start, Eshelman has continued to improve and has the Timberwolves on the verge of another postseason run.
“He had to start the playoff game and then the cross-town rival (Norman High) and then (Edmond) Santa Fe. Those were three huge ball games that are playoff-type atmospheres,” Jones said. “And so having to navigate that, you really don't have a whole lot of time to sit there and develop. You got to develop under fire.”
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As a quarterback in the state’s largest class, Eshelman says that is the best way to learn the position. He could only learn so much from the sideline and watching others do it.
Experience has been Eshelman’s best teacher.
“Football is one of those sports that there's so many things that can happen on a given night and just the best way to learn it is to do it,” Eshelman said. “So, the more you do it, the better you get at it and the easier it is to see it.”
According to Eshelman, he has progressed dramatically since not only last year’s playoff game but also the season-opening victory against Norman High. Each game out, he gains more and more experience sitting in the pocket and dissecting defenses.
“It just allows me to move through it quicker,” Eshelman said. “I'm not having to do as much thinking. It's just playing and reacting to the stuff that I see. I know I've seen it before.
"As the games went on, I could feel myself getting quicker with it, more reactive and having to think less about it and just seeing it.”
Norman North quarterback Owen Eshelman (with ball) takes a keeper during the Timberwolves' game against Westmoore on Oct. 27, 2023.
Even more than Eshelman’s big arm and dual-threat mobility, it may be his mindset that Jones admires the most about his quarterback.
“I think there's not a lot of guys that could do what he does and he's a very mentally strong person,” Jones said. “He's an ultimate competitor and I think him playing multiple sports and being an exceptional basketball player as well, he brings that to the game and gets some tough runs.
"He takes a lick a lot and he just has a growth mindset and doesn't worry about the previous play. Moves on to the next one and that's why he's having some success right now.”
Norman North beats Westmoore in key Oklahoma District 6AI-1 football clash
Yet, Eshelman is the first to give credit to those around him who made the transition a smooth process for him.
“Just experience. I've seen nine games worth of stuff, and my team has my back in a way that is better than I could ever ask for and they support me,” Eshelman said. “It's fantastic the way they support me.”
When the Timberwolves (7-2) head into the 6A-1 playoffs next week, they will be in a similar position as last year. One of the top teams on the West side, they are looking to make some noise.
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But instead of having an inexperienced, fresh-faced sophomore making his first start, they will have a grizzled veteran taking snaps.
“The biggest struggles we've had have been with ourselves and with penalties and stuff that we can fix and we were just beating ourselves, and so the biggest focus has been just fixing those things and putting ourselves in the best position to where the other team has to beat us and we're not beating ourselves and I think we did a much better job,” Eshelman said.
“We've grown a lot closer and just the trust has grown so much more and we're flowing at a faster pace. We're much more disciplined and just working together like all three phases of the game.”
The Timberwolves wrap up the regular season on Friday with a game at Enid.
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
