By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Ty Weber loved playing linebacker, where he starred for Washburn Rural.
And even though he's made a successful transition to tight end in his three seasons with the Washburn Ichabods, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior still has a lot of linebacker in him.
Former Washburn Rural star Ty Weber has made a successful transition from defense to offense for Washburn football, entering his third season as a starting tight end. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
After being named the TopSports.news Shawnee County defensive player of the year as a junior and senior and recording 134 tackles as a senior for Rural, Weber made the switch to offense early in his freshman season at WU, taking advantage of an opportunity to play immediately for the Ichabods.
It's a decision that has paid dividends for both Weber and Washburn.
Weber, who has nine career catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, played in nine games with seven starts as a true freshman and appeared in all 11 games with eight starts last fall.
"I feel I graduated to now being a tight end,'' Weber said. "The biggest thing that I've taken from defense now into offense is that darkside mentality that Coach (Kaleb) Koch (defensive coordinator) has for us. It's one of those things where we're going to pop and at the end of the day I'm going to win the majority of the time.
"It's the physicality, the toughness that comes with defense and that you need to play that side of the ball. I try to take that over to the offense and bring it over with as many guys as I can.''
Weber also gets the opportunity to get his inner linebacker out as a member of the Ichabods' special teams.
"Special teams are insane,'' Weber said. "That's where you get the opportunity to be as physically imposing as you can be on the other team.''
As one of Washburn's veterans, Weber embraces his role as a team leader for the Ichabods.
"Honestly, it's an honor to have that -- I don't even want to call it a burden -- to have that priviledge of having guys look up to you and look at what you're doing,'' he said. 'Be The Standard' is our motto and every day you come to the facility you know you have to live up to that standard.''
Weber and the Ichabods, who will be looking to improve on last fall's 3-8 record, will open the 2025 season at Yager Stadium on Aug. 30 against non-conference foe Truman State (1 p.m. kickoff).
Washburn will open its MIAA season at home on Sept. 6 against Northwest Missouri (1 p.m. kickoff).
