By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
KENT: Nate Terhune doesn't mind being known as "a fat guy who scored a touchdown."
Being labeled a college football "freak" would be even better as far as Terhune, a Kent State junior nose tackle, is concerned.
It was versatile Dri Archer who made national headlines with his speed. But with Archer sidelined for part of the season with an ankle injury, it was Terhune who made the top plays of the day on ESPN's SportsCenter [/I]for his 61-yard touchdown on a fake punt.
It wasn't just the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder rumbling down the left sideline in a victory over Ohio that made the play so worthy, but the fact that Terhune hurdled a Bobcats defender at the 40-yard line that made the long run all the more spectacular.
"It's one of those things you do and don't even realize it happened until you see it later," Terhune said.
Second fake punt
The spectacular special teams play was the second time Terhune successfully ran a fake punt for the Golden Flashes. The previous season as a redshirt freshman, he picked up a first down on a 31-yard gain on his first career carry in KSU's 31-24 victory over Towson.
"I was an offensive lineman in high school," Terhune said. "So I never got to score."
In the midst of spring camp for the upcoming season, Terhune is already being touted by KSU's athletic department as a candidate for CBSsports.com's Freak List: The 20 Craziest Athletes in College Football. Last season, Archer ranked No. 7 on the Freak List that also featured South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Terhune's freakish talent? Owning an extraordinary range of flexibility.
Surprising results
As part of KSU's preseason conditioning, players are put through a series of tests to measure things such as strength and flexibility. The more flexible a player is, the lower his score. Thus, receivers and running backs tend to have lower scores than linemen.
"Most D-linemen score around 15," KSU strength and conditioning coach Antoine Sharp said. "Terhune came in at six, six and a half, which is incredible for his size and position. For most of those big guys, the limiting factor is their ability to bend."
Quick to heal
Terhune's flexibility is a big factor in needing just four weeks to come back from a broken leg. After breaking his right fibula at LSU in the third game of the season, Terhune was told he'd be out at least four to six weeks. Even coach Paul Haynes figured he was done for the season. Instead, Terhune made it back to the field for the Flashes' final six games.
"That could have been a much worse injury if he didn't have such good flexibility attributes," Sharp said. "When you're dealing with a broken bone, a lot of things come into play as far as how fast they heal ? their nutrition, their rest, how they take care of themselves. On top of that, he was determined to come back, so he did everything he was told."
And then some.
"I kept asking to do more," Terhune said. "But a lot of times, they wouldn't let me. But that's probably good, because I might have caused more damage down the road trying to do too much too soon."
Back in the game
So when he made it back midway through the season, it was Terhune causing damage to the Flashes' opponents.
"Right now what I've done so far doesn't seem like a big deal," Terhune said. "But later once my college career is over, I can look back and relish having made that play -- and hopefully, a few more to come."
This post was edited on 4/16 6:56 PM by nashvillegoldenflash
Nate Terhune
Beacon Journal sports writer
KENT: Nate Terhune doesn't mind being known as "a fat guy who scored a touchdown."
Being labeled a college football "freak" would be even better as far as Terhune, a Kent State junior nose tackle, is concerned.
It was versatile Dri Archer who made national headlines with his speed. But with Archer sidelined for part of the season with an ankle injury, it was Terhune who made the top plays of the day on ESPN's SportsCenter [/I]for his 61-yard touchdown on a fake punt.
It wasn't just the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder rumbling down the left sideline in a victory over Ohio that made the play so worthy, but the fact that Terhune hurdled a Bobcats defender at the 40-yard line that made the long run all the more spectacular.
"It's one of those things you do and don't even realize it happened until you see it later," Terhune said.
Second fake punt
The spectacular special teams play was the second time Terhune successfully ran a fake punt for the Golden Flashes. The previous season as a redshirt freshman, he picked up a first down on a 31-yard gain on his first career carry in KSU's 31-24 victory over Towson.
"I was an offensive lineman in high school," Terhune said. "So I never got to score."
In the midst of spring camp for the upcoming season, Terhune is already being touted by KSU's athletic department as a candidate for CBSsports.com's Freak List: The 20 Craziest Athletes in College Football. Last season, Archer ranked No. 7 on the Freak List that also featured South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Terhune's freakish talent? Owning an extraordinary range of flexibility.
Surprising results
As part of KSU's preseason conditioning, players are put through a series of tests to measure things such as strength and flexibility. The more flexible a player is, the lower his score. Thus, receivers and running backs tend to have lower scores than linemen.
"Most D-linemen score around 15," KSU strength and conditioning coach Antoine Sharp said. "Terhune came in at six, six and a half, which is incredible for his size and position. For most of those big guys, the limiting factor is their ability to bend."
Quick to heal
Terhune's flexibility is a big factor in needing just four weeks to come back from a broken leg. After breaking his right fibula at LSU in the third game of the season, Terhune was told he'd be out at least four to six weeks. Even coach Paul Haynes figured he was done for the season. Instead, Terhune made it back to the field for the Flashes' final six games.
"That could have been a much worse injury if he didn't have such good flexibility attributes," Sharp said. "When you're dealing with a broken bone, a lot of things come into play as far as how fast they heal ? their nutrition, their rest, how they take care of themselves. On top of that, he was determined to come back, so he did everything he was told."
And then some.
"I kept asking to do more," Terhune said. "But a lot of times, they wouldn't let me. But that's probably good, because I might have caused more damage down the road trying to do too much too soon."
Back in the game
So when he made it back midway through the season, it was Terhune causing damage to the Flashes' opponents.
"Right now what I've done so far doesn't seem like a big deal," Terhune said. "But later once my college career is over, I can look back and relish having made that play -- and hopefully, a few more to come."
This post was edited on 4/16 6:56 PM by nashvillegoldenflash
Nate Terhune
