Every year, only one football team in each classification of Kansas football wins its final game of the season – the state champ.  The Andover Central Jaguars fell just short of that honor last year, and this season, Jags senior Brody DeGarmo is itching to win that one last round.  “I’m looking forward to playing with a bunch of my senior teammates who I have been friends with since I was in elementary school. I’d also love to win a state championship, especially after falling just short last season.” 

            Brody and his teammates have had almost a year to think about that game and what it means.  But when it comes to this season, he is taking an approach that any coach would admire, “I’m just working on being a leader on the defensive side of the ball.  We want to focus on each game and not look too far ahead.”

That focus has taken the form of concentrating on the little things and improving day by day.  To that end, DeGarmo states, “Speed and agility were the two main things I focused on this summer – also just staying in the gym.   There will be a few adjustments on the defensive side of the ball, so just adjusting to the changes and different players on the field will also be a major point of emphasis.”

As a junior, DeGarmo averaged seven tackles per game as a cornerback, a statistic that would have likely garnered him several post-season accolades.  Unfortunately, Brody missed five weeks of the season with a torn meniscus.

DeGarmo knows that if he can stay healthy this season, that the sky is the limit for he and his teammates for his senior campaign.  “This summer has gone really well, and our senior class has really been working hard in the offseason.”

DeGarmo also plays basketball and baseball for Central and has received league recognition in both sports. Brody has yet to commit to plans for the future; however, he would like to eventually become a manager for a Division I basketball program, with the end goal of eventually being involved in coaching.