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Football FeverFriday, August 24, 2007 6:10 AM CDT

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Bloomington: Leading the way a family value for Dunn

By Randy Kindred
rkindred@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON - Darrelynn Dunn has secured his cousin's Bloomington High School jersey number. Dunn will wear No. 1 this season. Next, the versatile junior hopes to fill Adrian Arrington's shoes. | Photo gallery | 5 Things to Watch | Team facts

A wide-eyed Dunn watched Arrington terrorize opponents on both sides of the football in 2004. A punishing safety and gifted running back, Arrington was an Illinois Coaches Association all-stater, a Pantagraph All-Area pick and Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, keying BHS to a third straight Class 6A state title-game appearance.

"I looked up to him a lot," Dunn said. "He always played hard and he was aggressive, a hard hitter. He made plays. I want to do the same thing."

Rigo Schmelzer likes his chances.

The BHS coach has had a lot of Division I scholarship players in his 15 years as head coach. Many made contributions as sophomores.

Dunn?

He did more on the varsity as a sophomore than most of the Purple Raiders' former stars. Dunn had 79 tackles at strong safety and rushed for 751 yards on 107 carries last season, a 7-yard average per carry.

"He is one of the few sophomores I can remember who not only helped us, but started on both sides," Schmelzer said. "That's pretty impressive."

The early success has Schmelzer, Dunn - everyone in the BHS locker room - eager to see what the 6-foot, 186-pound Dunn can do this season.

Dunn lets Arrington know "every time I see him" how he admires what he did at BHS. Now a defensive back at Eastern Illinois, Arrington has a consistent reply.

"He just says, 'Keep working hard, and you can be better than me,' " Dunn said. "I look at all the guys who came through here, like him, (James) Wade, (Justin) Harrison and (Brandon) Hughes, and I want to be just as good, if not better."

Wade went to Dayton, Harrison to Illinois and Hughes to Oregon State. A college career could be in Dunn's future as well.

For now, he wants to help BHS take the next step after two 9-2 seasons which ended with second-round playoff losses.

The Raiders likely will need a big year from Dunn, and he has set the bar high. His goals are to rush for more than 1,500 yards and have at least 80 tackles.

The tackles seem likely after making 79 a year ago. The yards could be more difficult.

"That's a lot of yards," Schmelzer said. "I would say he has a legitimate shot to get a thousand, and anything over that we'll have to see. I think it depends on how balanced we are on offense and how far we go in the playoffs. And the line becomes really important."

The Raiders should be solid up front. Four players return with starting experience, a nucleus Schmelzer said should make for an above-average line that is potentially "better than last year."

With a young defense, the BHS coach is counting on the offense to carry the load early. It starts in the trenches.

"That's good. We'll take that challenge," said returning senior center Deonte Person. "We're a pretty strong offensive line and we have a lot of quickness. It's a good combination."

A bonus will be blocking for Dunn, who senior guard Zach Collins said is a threat to score on every carry, whether given the "littlest opening or the biggest opening."

Dunn will take either, saying, "If the line can get a push, I'll find a hole and make a play."

With or without a running lane, Schmelzer said Dunn "will pound you and run hard."

"He has good vision and he can shift almost at full speed," Schmelzer said. "His speed for a high school tailback is good. If it gets better, I think he has a chance to play that spot in college. I think it's good enough already to play defense in college.

"He's a hard worker and a 'yes sir, no sir' kind of kid. We're really fortunate to have him."

Dunn expects to benefit from the presence of Levi Johnson, a senior who takes over at quarterback and is a capable runner and passer.

Schmelzer called Johnson "a pretty good total package."

"He can take a lot of pressure off of me," Dunn said. "When we run the option, he can tuck it and run or he can throw the ball."

Dunn felt pressure last season, but said, "I tried to step up and do as well as I could, even though I didn't know some of the stuff."

"It's a little pressure this year because I feel I have to do better than last year," he added. "At the same time, it's easier because I can adjust to things. I did all of the same things last year."

He wore No. 22 then, splitting time at tailback with Darian Davis. The burden shifts to No. 1 now ? just like 2004.

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Bloomington High School junior running back Darrelynn Dunn posed in front of the schools new sign following practice on Thursday (Aug 9, 2007). (Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)

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