Goodwin showing how much he’s grown as Russellville’s QB
RUSSELLVILLE — There’s a photo that sits on the second shelf of a bookcase behind Dustin Goodwin’s desk, leaned up against the backing, almost at eye level when the chair is occupied.
It’s of Russellville coach’s four sons — Whit, Colt, Grant, Jet. It’s from almost eight years ago when Jet was a few months old. Whit, now the Golden Tigers’ sophomore quarterback, is sitting in the middle holding his youngest brother. Colt is on his right. Grant his left.
Naturally, football is the theme. The oldest three are decked out in full Auburn uniforms, complete with a helmet and a ball.
“He probably wouldn’t like it if I showed you this one,” Dustin said with a grin before reaching over to grab a different picture.
Coach or not, dads are still dads.
There’s a much younger version of Whit in this one. Dressed in a tigerstriped winter outfit, a matching hat and little silver and black Nike shoes, he’s mimicking his dad’s celebration during Dustin’s first stint in Russellville as an assistant from 2008 to 2010. An arm is raised in the air.
“It’s the old adage that the days are long, but the years are short,” Dustin said. “It’s unbelievable how fast the time goes. It has almost a full circle feel to it.”
Whit has changed quite a bit since those early days. Gone is the close-cropped hair. The 16-year-old has a bit more flow these days. He’s a little taller, too, at a listed 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds.
But he’s also a quarterback who is still learning and trying to come into his own — as a thrower, as a player, as a person and as a leader.
Whit doubled back to make it a point to thank his offensive linemen. His receivers and running backs as well. He talked about how he believes the Golden Tigers (3-3) and their offense are on an upward trajectory.
He can still, at the same time, very much, be a typical teenager — one who likes to hang out with friends or ask mom, Sara K, for some meal money every so often; one who can be goofy sometimes, introverted at others. Dad might even have to remind him to introduce himself to someone new every now and then.
“He can be a pretty talkative guy once you get to know him, especially in the locker room,” junior linebacker Keifer Hallmark said. “He likes to joke around, but he also makes sure no one does anything stupid. He’s fun to be around outside football, and, really, he’s just a great person.
“But when we’re on the field, it’s football and it’s serious. We’ve got a task of wanting to make the playoffs and host a playoff game. He’s important for us to do that.”
And that’s really what might be the biggest compliment. How dependable Whit has become and continues to be in his second year as the starter for an offense that has changed quite a bit since last season.
Gone is the run-heavy approach for a little more run-pass balance. Some of it has come with a change in personnel. Some came out of a little bit of necessity. And with it came a chance for Whit, who always seemed to have a knack for excelling in sports growing up, to show he can sling the ball around the field a little bit to a new audience.
He has completed 103 of 148 passes for 1,254 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions through six games, but most of that production has come over the past two games, which also happen to be two of his best outings. Whit was 22-of-27 passing for 371 yards and four touchdowns against Ardmore. He followed that with a 24-for-35 for 371 yards and four scores in a showing at Fairview.
As a freshman, while going through some learning lumps and growing pains, Whit was 88-for-103 passing for 1,092 yards, 10 touchdowns and six picks.
“I think it’s about getting and being more comfortable,” Whit said. “I remember my first game last year. I was nervous. It was pretty bad, but it got better as the season went on. Playing quarterback in this offense, we have a lot of people doing different things. You better know what everyone is doing, but you better know your reads, too.
“Playing quarterback can come with a spotlight. When you’re playing good and the team’s playing good, it can be a good thing. When you’re playing bad, the spotlight’s not that good, so you have to learn to not say anything back when you get criticism. Just say, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir,’ and go on with your day.”
So far, Whit has tried to make good. That’s something Russellville would like to see continue.
“It’s been fun to watch,” Dustin said of his son’s progression. “It’s hard to believe he is where he is. You want to see him continue to get better in football and life.”
Both of those photos are a reminder: Whit is growing.
