Lake Oconee Academy’s Dylan Hiter has faced adversity throughout his high school football career.
He’s fought through several injuries during his time as a Titan but hopefully has reached the other side of them.
“You could just embody him as our warrior,” Lake Oconee Academy head coach Patrick Stewart said of Hiter. “He’s fought through injuries and played through them. And he’s never missed a workout or missed a practice in his last four years. So, he is everything you want as a player. He’s definitely resilient and tough.”
After confirming Hiter remains one of the team’s best defenders, Stewart revealed the LOA senior will be taking on a new role this year, too.
“Dylan has been a big contributor on the defensive side of the ball. He’s been our bandit and has taken on that role extremely well as an outside linebacker,” Stewart said. “And then offensively this year, he’s going to help us a lot in the backfield as a running back. We expect him to contribute offensively just as much as on defense.”
Hiter craves contact, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot, 170-pound senior plays outside linebacker. He totaled 35 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and had a fumble recovery as a junior.
Stewart said one of Hiter’s strengths on defense is setting the edge and plugging gaps.
“He sets hard edges, and he’s not afraid of contact by any means,” Stewart said. “So, he can take on a pulling guard trying to kick him out. He can take on a fullback trying to kick him out … and make that ball carrier cut back into the rest of our defense. So that’s a huge, huge help.”
Hiter said he enthusiastically embraces attacking and bringing down an opposing ball carrier.
“I’m just always being aggressive and being the first one to the ball,” he said. “I like putting a hat on a hat.”
Still, Hiter has embraced his new offensive role and has been working hard this summer on learning the position. He’s looking forward to the moment he first outmaneuvers a defender.
“It’s gonna be a change, but if I learn the key things and do what I am supposed to, I will be just fine,” Hiter predicted.
Stewart said Hiter tends to be a “north-to-south” runner, but also is a willing blocker, which is essential.
“He’s not trying to juke you out by any means, but he has the athleticism to be able to,” Stewart said. “He is a great blocker as well, and that helps us with our other backs.”
Hiter wants to give it everything he’s got this season. He also wants to take on a bigger leadership role. Hiter is a star on the LOA baseball team, too, and has been part of deep playoff runs on the diamond, but now he wants to have that chance on the gridiron.
“I love playing with my boys, and I love the coaches. They’re great people. They pour a lot into us,” he said. “I love it and owe it to myself, the coaches, and my buddies to give it my all on the field this year.”