Wednesday, November 14, 2012
LB Michael Carlson returns from injury
By Mason Kelley
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Michael Carlson (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) called it “probably the hardest couple of weeks in my life.”
After suffering a a fractured forearm in practice a few days before Bellevue's seventh game of the season, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker was forced to miss three games.
He was in the middle of a breakout season. He had started to catch the attention of college coaches. He was a key contributor to the defensive success of the nation’s second-ranked team in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings.
“No one wants to have an injury their senior year,” Carlson said. “At least it wasn’t in the playoffs and I’m able to play now. I’m just going to go out here and do what I can with this cast on.”
After helping the Wolverines beat Ferndale (Wash.) 28-0 in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs, Carlson said he was just happy to be back on the field.
“It’s just great to be back out here on the field with my teammates, grinding,” Carlson said.
The senior currently has offers from Montana, Montana State and Portland State. He has also been invited to play at Yale and is drawing interest from Oregon State, Arizona State, Washington State and Washington.
He has sent tape out that covers his early season games, but right now he isn’t worried about where he ends up playing college football. He is focused on leading Bellevue to its fifth consecutive state title.
“I know my teammates are out there playing,” he said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can every game. Stats are good and everything, but as long as we come out with a win at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
