Clear Lake only returned 5 starters from a team that went 2-6 last season. The Falcons are in the midst of a true youth movement as 12 of the 22 starters on the field are sophomores. That hasn’t deflated the Clear Lake faithful though, as the Falcons have started the season off 3-2. With youth comes inexperience and if Clear Lake hopes to contend an a very competitive 24-6A, they’ll need everyone on the same page.
With such inexperience at key positions, the Falcons rely on senior leadership more than ever. It just so happens that Head Coach Larry McRae has a true leader in cornerback Julian Humphrey.
Humphrey started out as a wide receiver only for Clear Lake, but after some prompting by his assistants, McRae played him as a defensive back as well his sophomore year. Turned out to be a great decision as Humphrey is now ranked as the 7th best cornerback in the country and has no problem letting his opponents know it.
Humphrey is a physical, hard hitting corner, but his calling card is his speed. In his heart, Julian knew he was one of the faster players in the nation, but this summer, at The Opening, he got to prove it. Competing against the speediest high school football players in the nation, Humphrey posted a 4.38 40 which beat all other times.
Julian will be headed to the University of Florida after his senior season and should get playing time immediately. Being a defensive back in the S-E-C seems like a perfect fit for Humphrey