Caleb Jeffers toyed with the idea of quitting football last year despite Carson High's impressive run to the Sierra League championship.
Meaningful playing opportunities were scarce, and that was tough to take for the junior, who had been a two-way starter on the freshman and junior varsity teams.
"Part of me wanted to quit," admitted Jeffers, the Senators' 6-4 205-pound starting defensive end as he prepared for today's home game against Galena. "I knew I had to stick it out. I knew that I'd be a senior next year and probably starting. It made me a better football player.
"Watching the seniors and how they worked out really helped. Seeing how hard Justin (Barlow) worked. The linemen played like they practiced everyday."
Jeffers' declaration didn't surprise Carson head coach Blair Roman.
"When juniors come up and they've played every down as freshmen and sophomores, and they come up and they are playing behind a senior or even another junior that (quitting) goes through a lot of kid's minds.
"I feel like Caleb epitomizes that old notion when kids become seniors they are ready to become solid players. He is definitely one of the seniors that has stepped up to play a key role for us. He's had a tremendous season for us."
Jeffers has followed in the footsteps of Taylor Silva and Nick Roberson, both of whom stepped up and had nice senior seasons after playing much-lesser roles as juniors.
Jeffers has been starting opposite Jon Parker throughout the season. He has 33 tackles, a team-leading three sacks and he's batted down two passes, both against Spanish Springs.
"I think I've had a pretty good season," Jeffers said. "I played pretty well against Spanish Springs and Manogue, and the Hug game was up there. The Douglas game I wasn't getting off the tight end.
"If I get three or four tackles a game and we win I'm happy. There are times when the linebackers get the tackles, but I feel like I've helped out. At defensive end, I never want to get outside too much on my rush because I don't want to lose containment."
Roman agreed with Jeffers' self assessment.
"The last couple of games (Damonte Ranch and Spanish Springs) he's played lights out," Roman said. "He was not being aggressive enough (earlier) in the Douglas game and before that. He didn't play as well as he's capable of. We need him to be more aggressive instead of just reacting."
Especially when Jeffers plays over the tight end. He has to put a body on the tight end and then read the play and he wasn't doing that on a consistent basis. Before, he was reading the play, but often got pushed back by the tight end.
Roman said that the defensive scheme has changed a bit this year.
"Last year we were so dominant up the middle with Barlow and Ryan Hoskins that we could turn the defensive ends loose," Roman said. "This year, we're asking them to read a lot more."
Jeffers started the season-opener against Del Campo on the offensive line, but those are the only downs he's played on offense. He much prefers the defensive side of the ball.
Roman said that start came because regular center Danny Gall was injured and Jeffers was pressed into action at guard and Logan Peternell moved to center. Truth be told, it wouldn't bother Jeffers if he never played another down on offense.
"It's way more fun on defense," Jeffers said. "Just to have the ability to hit people. I'm better on defense, and the coaches wanted me to focus on defense. Defense is a lot more intense.
"Our offense is a tough one to learn. On defense you just react. In our offense, you have to know exactly what to do."
Jeffers & Co. have been solid on defense, but have yielded more yards than last year's senior-laden group.
"We bend, but don't break," Jeffers said. "We're not as big as last year. Barlow was big. We have to concentrate more on technique."
That work seems to be paying off.