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Drane, Durakovic: Friends, 'Bookends'

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By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 4, 2008

TAMPA - Just a year ago, Sickles had the type of season often pointed to as a program's turning point. At least Coach Pat O'Brien believes it was.

The veteran coach is leaning on a pair of senior linebackers to make sure what began last season continues into the future.

Not many would argue with his choice.

"They're like bookends for us," O'Brien said, "and they're two of the strongest kids on the team. These are the types of kids that make plays and lead teams."

O'Brien is referring to star senior linebackers Taylor Drane and Cody Durakovic. And yes, for those Gryphons fans who are questioning Drane being mentioned here, the former defensive end is changing positions.

"We lost all our linebackers from last year except Cody, so we knew we were going to have one less guy's hand in the dirt," the coach said. "So we were wondering where we could find an extra linebacker. When Taylor cut some weight and did very well at the combines, he was the obvious choice."

As a defensive end a season ago, Drane recorded 36 tackles in helping Sickles to a monumental seven-game improvement from 0-10 the previous season. The turnaround led to the school's first playoff berth, and with his move to linebacker joining Durakovic and Scotty O'Donaghue, the Gryphons believe they've changed a potential weak spot into a strength.

What's more, Drane and Durakovic are ready to prove potential naysayers wrong.

"I hadn't really thought about changing positions until this past season, because now with my 40-yard sprint times, I really fit the mold of a linebacker," said Drane, down 20 pounds to 225 on his 6-foot frame. "Obviously the two positions are different. I had to get faster to make the change and I did that. You get a lot more chances to make plays and I'll be blitzing a lot and using the skills I used as a defensive end.

"It's going to be a new challenge for me this year, but I'm looking forward to it."

For Durakovic, the move couldn't have come soon enough. The 6-2, 216-pounder not only gets another quality tackler opposite him, but also now shares linebacking duties with one of his best friends on the team.

"We've always been good friends, always lifted together," Durakovic said. "After he became a linebacker, I got excited. Now we've got another big linebacker. He likes to hit and he likes to hit hard."

Now, with the defensive pieces seemingly in place, all that remains is the Gryphons' ability to prove last season's memorable run wasn't a fluke. If early signs are any indication, it could be the start of another banner year.

"It used to be that no one would show up for the first day of football tryouts and we had 100 kids come this year," Durakovic said. "As a defense, we're big, strong and fast - a lot better than in years past. Last year, we just got started winning. I don't think there's any reason we'll stop now."

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