TAHLEQUAH — Tahlequah-Sequoyah lineman Tanner Sheets doesn’t say much – opting, instead, to let his play do most of the talking. The trouble for opponents is, in that respect, rarely can they figure out a way to shut him up.

Sheets has served as the cog in the Sequoyah offensive line since his sophomore season, only because he was ineligible to participate in varsity sports during his freshman year at SHS.

“They wouldn’t let me play varsity in anything for a year,” said Sheets. “But I liked Coach Scott. He’s a good coach and he was straight forward with me.”

Sheets, along with classmate Karter Woodruff, elected to make the jump – and the necessary sacrifice – after familiarizing themselves with the unique culture that surrounds Tahlequah-Sequoyah.

“I wasn’t going to play football at Fort Gibson anyway,” said Sheets.

“We went to a couple of practices and kind of got a feel for what it’d be like. Then (Woodruff and I) pretty much made the decision together.”

While the do-it-all center points to program success and a desire to play at the next level as factors in his decision, he primarily credits the SHS coaching staff for its approach.

“(Coach Brent Scott) is a good coach,” said Sheets.“He knows what he’s talking about. He’ll get after you when you need it, and he’ll love you at the same time. We’ve got great coaches. Bill Scott is the best coach I’ve ever met in my life. He’s got film from when he played ball and he’s showed me that before. He and I are really close.”

The respect between the player and his coaches is mutual.

“Tanner is one of the best that we’ve ever had come through here,” said Brent Scott. “He’ll pull double duty for us. He’s not afraid of hard work. When National Signing Day comes, he will be one of the guys that will be signing to go play ball somewhere.”

In the mean time, Sheets is preparing for a senior season chock full of lofty aspirations.

Sequoyah will enter the season as a consensus top five pick in Class 3A.

“I’ve been lifting and running,” he said. “I went to Nike Football Training Camp in Memphis and I went to OU camp. This is my senior year. I’ve got to have a good year.”