Herrell building himself, Greenfield-Central 'Day by Day'

Typically, a freshman wouldn’t be a statistical leader on a Class 4A football program.

Brayden Herrell, however, wasn’t your typical freshman a season ago, and that sat just fine with Greenfield-Central football coach Travis Nolting.

In their first year together, Nolting and Herrell excited a fan base that hadn’t had much to cheer about in recent years, snapped a long losing streak and won the program’s first sectional game in several seasons. When the dust settled, the Cougars finished 2-9 overall and Herrell rushed for 619 yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries.

Perhaps, the most impressive thing was he got better as the season progressed, especially late in the season. He went for 179 yards and two touchdowns against New Castle, 118 yards in the sectional opener against Muncie Central and then 100 in the second round of the sectional tournament against Pendleton Heights.

As he enters his sophomore season, Herrell is focused on grinding every day and improving at a game he has loved since he was 5 years-old.

“There is always more work to be done and I can always better myself. At the end of the day, I just want to win, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win,” Herrell told Sideline Prep Sports Report.

The biggest surprise from last year may be the fact that Herrell had the success he had despite only playing running back one year and he quickly became one of the featured backs in Nolting’s wishbone offense.

“I didn’t really have much experience at all. I would say the number one thing, though, was the coaches. Coach Nolting pushed me so hard all year, and I really think that’s what got me where I am now. It really just took hard work and studying the position and the results came with it,” Herrell said.

Another thing that helped is buying into Nolting’s motto of getting better day by day.

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do. The wins just come with it. Our record doesn’t reflect the amount of work we put in at all. Individually, my goal is to help my team win a sectional. That will be my goal the whole time I am here. We’re slowly turning this program around, and it’s a long process, but it’s going to be worth it in the end,” Nolting said.