Loyola senior Brooks Bahr doesn’t know the way far soccer will take him.
But the 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive lineman is for certain he’ll attain his potential.
Bahr mentioned he feels lucky to be the uncommon participant who has the chance to be coached by former NFL gamers at each the highschool and school ranges.
John Holecek, who performed linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, the San Diego Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2002, has loved large success since changing into Loyola’s coach in 2006. The Marian Catholic graduate has compiled a 172-36 report and two state titles. The Ramblers have performed in six state championship video games in that span.
Under Holecek’s steerage, Bahr has developed into among the best gamers within the state. He is rated because the top-ranked defensive lineman in Illinois and the state’s ninth-best prospect total within the class of 2023 by 247Sports. He is rated because the 68th-best defensive lineman nationally.
Another former, extra well-known NFL participant took discover. Bahr has dedicated to play at Michigan, the place Jim Harbaugh is the coach.
Choosing Michigan
Bahr was a beast throughout his junior season, recording 54 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and 7 quarterback hurries to assist the Ramblers win their first 12 video games. They misplaced 35-21 to eventual champion Lockport within the Class 8A state semifinals.
Bahr acquired 15 Division I presents, together with eight from Big Ten applications. He couldn’t resist the possibility to play for Harbaugh.
“It was just how passionate he is about football and how much he wants to see everyone succeed,” Bahr mentioned. “He’s a player’s coach. He really cares about the players and wants everyone to have equal opportunities.”
Harbaugh, who coached the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl look after the 2012 season and led Michigan to the Big Ten title final 12 months, is understood for his competitiveness and drive.
“He’s a big personality,” Bahr mentioned. “He’s one of the realist coaches I’ve seen so far. He’s awesome. He’s not afraid to show you who he really is, and he’s a funny guy.”
Holecek shares loads of the identical qualities.
“Yes, I’d say he’s very similar to Harbaugh, wants the best for his players,” Bahr mentioned. “He will put all of it on the road.
“He just expects a lot from us since he was in the NFL for so long and has seen all these great players. So he pushes us to the max, to say the least.”
That’s precisely what Bahr and his teammates need. Holecek mentioned he needed the identical factor when he performed and that it informs his teaching fashion. While taking part in expertise isn’t required to be coach, it’s useful.
“Bill Belichick never played, and he’s the greatest coach of all time, but the experience is real,” Holecek mentioned. “That’s one thing that I believe is efficacious for a coach.
“I think anyone who has played understands what the player’s viewpoint is. Coaches that have played know that the only things these players want are, obviously, leadership and development, to get them better.”
Development is the secret for Holecek. Get essentially the most out of each participant, and success will observe. To Holecek, the perfect coaches don’t take into consideration themselves.
“It’s the guy that didn’t have any ego, that didn’t think about themselves,” Holecek mentioned. “They thought in regards to the success of their group, the success of the gamers, and I all the time needed as a lot data as attainable.
“Overcoach, overteach, if necessary, but never have someone saying, ‘I wish I learned something else.’ That doesn’t happen here. I think everyone who has gone to college from our program has come back and said, ‘I’m so prepared.’ That’s a good feeling as a coach.”
Coming to Loyola
Playing at Loyola offers Bahr feeling. But he didn’t go to the varsity in Wilmette for soccer.
“It’s funny because I actually came here for lacrosse,” he mentioned. “I’ve been taking part in soccer for perhaps seven years, however I’ve all the time been targeted on lacrosse.
“My head coach recruited me here, so the only reason I’m really here in the first place was because of my lacrosse coach.”
Bahr started taking part in lacrosse when he was in second grade however give up freshman 12 months to deal with soccer. Even so, lacrosse gave Bahr some expertise that translate to soccer.
“I’d say it’s helped a lot with my steps and being able to juke out for the pass rush,” Bahr mentioned. “Being within the midfield, I used to be very bodily, all the time dodging.
“Then I fell in love with the physicality of the D-line. Sophomore year of high school is where it really took off.”
Senior tight finish Jack Parker, who has dedicated to play at Western Michigan, didn’t develop up with Bahr however has seen him develop in a literal sense.
“I met him freshman year,” Parker mentioned. “He lives in Lake Forest, and I dwell down in Edgebrook (in Chicago). I used to be on the sophomore group my freshman 12 months, so I didn’t get to know him effectively, and he was a lacrosse participant, so he wasn’t checked into soccer till sophomore 12 months.
“That was the turnaround for him. He just grew and put on weight. He went from tall and skinny to massive.”
The progress wasn’t simply bodily. Bahr has thrived in Loyola’s program, absorbing information from Holecek and his assistants.
“It’s awesome playing at Loyola,” Bahr mentioned. “It’s the highest competitors in every sport. It’s been a blessing being right here, going up in opposition to all these nice youngsters, nice competitors each day, taking part in within the Catholic League.
“The ceiling for growth is a lot bigger here, and you’re going to see what it’s going to look like in college. It’s preparing you for the college level.”
There is little question Bahr is ready for the school recreation. Holecek is impressed with Bahr’s repertoire of strikes in addition to his bodily presence.
“He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s strong at the point of attack,” Holecek mentioned. “(At practice) we had a play where he really got off his line, he’s splitting a double team and forcing the other guard to chase.”
While Bahr is quick sufficient to hurry the passer, his strengths lie elsewhere, significantly in stopping the run. His effectiveness doesn’t all the time translate into tackles for himself.
“He can free up linebackers,” Holecek mentioned. “I used to be speaking to him about if he places his lengthy arms out and washes the sort out down, that sort out has no probability to get to the linebacker.
“Because he’s so long, he has a chance to put his hands down and shove the tackle down the line and still make the play, but he really helps the linebackers. That’s extremely valuable because you’re freeing up the second level.”
The subsequent degree
Bahr’s play helped the Ramblers take their protection to the following degree in 2021. They gave up 14 factors per recreation whereas taking part in a schedule that included 11 playoff groups.
Bahr isn’t Loyola’s solely standout defender, however he’s the biggest.
“We have a big team, but they’re like 6-3 or 6-4,” Holecek mentioned. “We don’t get 6-6 guys with the length like that. That’s rare. At the next level, they covet length.”
Much of Bahr’s spotlight tape exhibits him dashing the passer from the sting. But that’s not his forte, neither is it his future.
Bahr mentioned Michigan plans to maneuver him inside, the place he can plug up the operating recreation. He’ll have to placed on weight to try this, however Holecek is assured Michigan’s coaches will assist him.
“At colleges, strength coaches are really important,” Holecek mentioned. “That’s the place Brooks will take that subsequent step, when he beneficial properties 30 extra kilos of muscle.
“He’s huge, but he’s not an explosive defensive end. He’s going to be more inside. But if they do play a 3-4, he could be a powerful technique inside guy that doesn’t have to pass rush as much.”
That’s nice with Bahr.
“They just like my physicality inside and being able to stop the run,” Bahr mentioned. “So they assume I’d be a greater match inside fairly than outdoors, in comparison with an Aidan Hutchinson, who’s a stand-up edge.
“I like stopping the run, so I have no problem with it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
That’s precisely what Holecek needs to listen to and prizes in a captain.
“He’s one of those kids that draw everybody in, a leader,” Holecek mentioned. “He’s skilled. He does all the pieces the coaches need.
“Most of our kids are really good and can do all the things, but he’s a shining example of everything you want as a high school coach. He works as hard in the offseason and on his own. The kid wants it, and he’s doing everything he can.”
That consists of sparring with the 6-5, 240-pound Parker in observe.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Parker mentioned. “It makes me better, for sure. He’s a great athlete, makes all of us better, and we make him better, so it’s a mutual thing. We challenge each other every day, and it’s fun to have that competition.”
Bahr is aware of the competitors will get a lot harder in school, however he has already skilled what it’s wish to go up in opposition to an enormous Division I offensive sort out. His brother Chase is a 6-4, 295-pound senior at Penn.
“We always try to work out whenever he’s back from college and during the summer,” Bahr mentioned. “It’s enjoyable to work one-on-ones with him.
“It’s been really beneficial, just him showing me the physicality it takes to play at the college level. It gets competitive.”
Bahr will get loads of competitors within the Big Ten, and he’s prepared for the problem.
“Words can’t even describe it,” Bahr mentioned. “It’s going to be superior taking part in in entrance of 115,000 individuals per recreation, simply the wealthy custom Michigan has.
“It’s obviously a real competitive conference, so I’ll be getting the best competition every week. I’m really looking forward to playing on that big stage.”
Just how large can the stage get for him? Bahr, an honor roll pupil who’s contemplating a serious in enterprise or advertising, was requested in regards to the NFL.
“I’m just really focused on controlling what I can control right now, getting better and better each year and putting my head down and working,” he mentioned.
“Obviously, the goal is to play football as long as possible. But if football doesn’t work out, I’ll get a good degree and be able to use it. That was part of going to Michigan: play football as long as possible and have a good education that I can fall back on.”
Matt Le Cren is a contract reporter for Pioneer Press.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com