Casey Smith is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Christian High School for AZPreps365.com.

For many young athletes, few positions are more intriguing than playing running back. The glory of running into the end zone while your school shouts your name is a feeling like no other. 

Phoenix Christian senior Luke Hocking surely felt the same, as he's helped lead the Cougars to an 8-1 record, with their eyes set on being the 2A conference state champions. Hocking is a former running back-turned-lineman, recording the second-most sacks and tackles for loss on his team.

Hocking said he was motivated by former NFL running backs Marshawn Lynch and Todd Gurley. In his freshman year, Hocking rushed the ball 36 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. However, his career took a turn his sophomore year after he broke his arm during one of the very first plays. 

“I was actually on the sideline when it happened,” senior tight end Reuben Guerrero said. “It was tough because he just came off a good freshman year. The play that he got hurt he was gonna score on the three yard line I believe. Just seeing him go through all that was really rough.” 

Hocking was sidelined for his entire sophomore year after the injury, however he says that it was his coaches and teammates that allowed him to come back.

“I lost it a little after my arm breaking. These coaches changed all that for me, brought that fight back in me for football," Hocking said.

Once his junior season began, Hocking and his coaches decided it was smartest to switch him to become an offensive and defensive lineman. Hocking relished his new mindset. 

“Running the ball, you just are a target, and it kind of hurts. When you're on the line you get to hurt people. So it's kind of more fun," Hocking said. 

Despite the nature of having to play lineman Hocking is more quiet and reserved than one might first expect. How he plays on the field is a very different mentality than how he acts off it. 

“I kind of taught myself to flip the switch when I get on the field and just get angry,” Hocking said.

Throughout this season the mindset has worked well. On offense, Hocking has been a reassuring thought for senior quarterback Michael Harmon. 

“When I’m playing quarterback I just know that if I roll out to his side he's not going to let nobody get back to his side,” Harmon said. “I know I can rely on his side and he'll protect me.” 

With his quiet yet volatile nature Hocking serves as both a presence for his teammates on the field as well as a leader in the locker room, with his teammates describing him as a role model that others look towards. However, Hocking may be best described with the words his teammate Reuben Guerrero first used to speak about him.

“He's a dog.”

Phoenix Christian plays their next game nn October 25th. The Cougars will look to continue their successful season on their own turf against Mountainside.