They accomplished that mission in the form of a perfect run to the District 13-5A championship, and as a result they received opportunities to continue their careers in college.
For running backs Reaves-Brown and Tuck, that will begin this fall.
For linebacker Monsen, he’ll still be on a mission.
Wednesday on National Signing Day, Tuck signed a letter of intent with NCAA Division II Midwestern State, Reaves-Brown signed with Cisco Junior College and Monsen announced that he will join Brigham Young’s 2010 signing class following a two-year church mission.
“This has been a great senior class, they’ve done a great job and they’re just fun to coach,” said Temple coach Bryce Monsen, whose Wildcats had a 7-4 record in his third season. “This today is a real tribute to them. I can’t tell you how proud I am of this class of kids.”
Physical and fast, Reaves-Brown shared 13-5A’s Most Valuable Player Award after rushing for 980 yards (7.2 per carry) and 13 touchdowns. He also was a punishing blocker in Temple’s revived Wing-T offense that included Tuck and sophomore standout Lache Seastrunk.
Reaves-Brown said the feeling he got from Cisco coach John Parchman - who guided Midland Lee’s 1998-2000 dynasty - and the opportunity to compete for immediate playing time were the keys to choosing the Wranglers.
“I really liked the campus there, and the coaches and I clicked, like it is here,” he said. “They want me to come in and take the running back position. It seemed like the right place for me to go.”
Reaves-Brown is hopeful of signing with a major four-year program in two years, preferably Texas Christian.
Said Bryce Monsen: “Adrian is a really good football player, and if he’ll take care of his business he’ll have an opportunity to make it (to the next level). There’s no telling how far he’ll go.”
With good size and moves, Tuck emerged as a valuable weapon as a senior, rushing for 684 yards (6.5 per carry) and five TDs and shining in the Wildcats’ 35-34 district victory at College Station A&M Consolidated.
He’ll head to Wichita Falls to join a Midwestern State program that led Division II in rushing last season and has made two playoff trips in the last four years under coach Bill Maskill.
“They have a nice program and Coach Maskill says they’re knocking on the door of a national championship,” said Tuck, who plays to study business. “They told me, ‘As soon as you come be ready, because you’ll be one of the biggest backs here.’”
Cody Monsen was one of Temple’s best defenders in 2007, making 93 tackles (45 solo, seven for losses) and recovering three fumbles.
His father - who doubles as Temple’s head coach - also served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before he played linebacker at BYU for three seasons in the 1980s.
Bryce Monsen said Cody has been committed to going on a two-year mission since he was 14, but Cody - who also considered attending Utah - said he didn’t know he’d commit to play at BYU until a couple of weeks ago.
“I’ll probably be out of football shape when I get back, but most guys (who serve missions) come back a little bigger and taller,” said Cody Monsen, who will turn 19 in May. “I’ll probably redshirt my first year and play after that.”
Bryce Monsen, whose oldest daughter attends BYU, said it never was a sure thing that Cody would play for the Cougars until coach Bronco Mendenhall - whose program has two consecutive Mountain West Conference championships - came calling with an offer to place him in the class of 2010.
“Nobody (in Division I-A) really talked to him before BYU came in late with a scholarship,” Bryce Monsen said. “Absolutely he’s going on his mission and that’s serving the Lord 24/7. We support him.”
Monsen said defensive back Robert Black and defensive linemen David Johnson and Cedric Mosley likely will soon decide which college programs to join.
gwille@temple-telegram.com
