When the Winona coaches sat down in the offseason and looked at whom they had returning on defense, veteran coach Joey Tompkins knew some changes had to be made.
One of the major changes involved Marlonzo Small moving from linebacker to defensive end.
Small had been solid at linebacker for the Tigers and was one of the team’s leading tacklers last season.
“He has played linebacker every year he has played,” Tompkins said. “But in this offseason, we kind of started looking at the depth chart and seeing where he could help us the most and possibly play at the next level. He was kid that we looked at that we thought could help us on the defensive line and make us better as a team.”
The move didn’t faze Small at all, who stands at 5-foot-9 and 250 pounds.
“He’s a real unselfish kid,” Tompkins said. “Going from linebacker to defensive line is not the most glorious thing, but he didn’t mind it all. He’s a team guy. He was one of our leading tacklers last year, but when we moved him there in the spring, he had a really good spring. He’s just one of those kids that’s going to come to work every day. He’s not going to say much and is very humble and respectful. He’s the type of guy that you like to represent your program. He’s just a really good kid.”
Small said it has been a learning process but one that he has embraced.
“I used to play outside linebacker, but I’m making the transition to defensive end,” Small said. “I think it’s going to go really well. I just got to get in there and learn the position and grow into the position. It’s a learning process. I’ll play with my hand in the ground. I’m comfortable in a four-point stance. They started me in a three-point stance, but they wanted me to be more comfortable and I tried the four-point stance and liked it better. I just want to do what’s best for the team. I’ll play wherever they put me. I think it fits me really well. It’s a good opportunity to be able to help my team.”
Tompkins said he also thinks the move will help Small in the future.
“I think he could play JUCO defensive line, I really do,” Tompkins said. “He’s not a kid that you are going to look at and just be amazed by but he’s a kid. I don’t think he can play linebacker, he’s a 4.9 40 guy but he’s 250 pounds and he can get some more weight on. He could be a nose guard for somebody, a guy that causes chaos.”
Small said he hasn’t gotten a lot of junior college interest but has talked to Holmes and Northwest.
“The junior colleges have shown some interest but not a lot,” Small said. “Holmes has come by and talked to me and some of the other junior colleges have come by and shown some interest. They think I’m more of a defensive end in college. I would like to play in college if I could.”
Tompkins said he knew the transition wouldn’t be a problem because of the kind of kid Small is.
“He is a kid that everybody likes and isn’t going to say very much at all,” Tompkins said. “He has never been anything but a yes sir, no sir kid. He’s a pleaser and always wants to do the right thing. A lot of time if you have pleasers they won’t always let everything go but he’s a guy that wants to make the coaches happy and he’s going to try to do what you coach him to do. He’s a top-notch young man. He works his butt off in school. He doesn’t make the top grades but he works his butt off. We are lucky to have him.”
Small said he also knows his role for this upcoming season.
“I need to try to be a leader to the younger guys coming up,” Small said. “They don’t know how to do everything and I try to lead by example. I try not to say too much but try to do things right and hopefully, they will learn from me and I can help the younger guys. I just want to be a leader for those guys.”
Tompkins said more than anything, he knows that Small will be successful no matter what he does in life.
“He’s going to be a successful adult,” Tompkins said. “I measure success different ways. He may not ever go play a down of college football. It doesn’t matter how much money you are making, are you doing something that makes you happy and are you providing for your family and he’s going to be that guy. That’s about the best thing I can say about him. He’s going to be that guy.”
Despite playing just the one sport, Small does stay busy. Despite working out four day a week at school, he also works out three or four times a week at the local gym. Small also works at Super Value and said when his grandfather needs help, he helps him haul pulpwood.
