One can’t fault Naperville Central senior Tommy Carlsen for thinking from time to time about what could have been.
He quarterbacked the sophomore team to an undefeated record in 2015, but Patrick Ryan’s emergence as Conor Joyce’s replacement meant a shift to wide receiver for Carlsen in 2016.
After catching 13 passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns as a junior, the chance to get under center seemed close. Payton’s Thorne’s transfer from Metea Valley, however, altered the script for Carlsen yet again.
“It’s not much different from last year,” Carlsen said. “I was expecting to be the quarterback last year and I had to move to receiver. (I was) expecting to be the quarterback this year — they wanted me to move to defense.
“So it’s just adjusting, and the defensive coaches are awesome about it.”
Carlsen has quickly found a home as one of defensive coordinator Mike Ulreich’s cornerbacks.
Through five games for the undefeated Redhawks, Carlsen has recorded 22 tackles and two interceptions.
The secondary has been bolstered by the additions of Carlsen and junior safety Jack Jopes — the sophomore team quarterbacks from the last two years.
“They’re just great competitors and they’re playmakers,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “So for us to be able to move them over on to defense, when you can put two athletes like that out on the field, it definitely is to your advantage.
“We’re pretty fortunate to be able to do that. It has helped our defense a lot.”
As much as Thorne and receiver Jayden Reed, who’s committed to Western Michigan, have had to do with the Redhawks’ success, turnovers have been just as paramount.
Carlsen is one of seven Redhawk defensive players to have at least one interception. The defense has intercepted at least one pass in each game.
“We preach that every day in practice pretty much,” Carlsen said of the turnovers. “We want to be a takeaway team this year. There was a lack of takeaways last year, so if we go a practice without a lot of tipped balls or a lot of interceptions, we’re pretty upset with ourselves. We want to go back at it and get after it the next day.”
Carlsen and Jopes each had interceptions in Naperville Central’s 31-17 victory Friday over Wheaton Warrenville South.
Jopes’ 45 tackles lead the secondary. He said there has been no hesitation with the moves he and Carlsen have made.
“The second we knew Payton was coming over, we knew it was going to be a huge addition,” Jopes said. “Tommy and I were both happy to go and just make an impact on the game.”
Blake Baumgartner is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.
