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Sammy Douglas wanted a senior season worthy of remembrance at Arlington High. Anyone who saw the 2012 Star-Telegram Defensive Player of the Year take the football field will recall that a perfect confluence of talent, preparation and hard work came together to give the Colts a star in the middle of their defense. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound linebacker rededicated himself in the off-season shortly after a second straight one-and-done trip in the playoffs. "I knew I needed to step up and that I could be a better player," Douglas said. "I said if I start right now I could be better than I was last year and try to push everybody else to make them better too. I got a couple people who wanted to try and make something of their lives and I pushed them hard in the weight room and when we ran outside."
Needless to say, it worked.
Defensive Player of the Year
The Colts made it to the regional semifinals, their deepest playoff run since 2009, and Douglas racked up 168 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries en route to Associated Press first-team all-state honors.
"We really preached to these kids that they had a chance to leave a mark at this high school, that they would always be remembered," Arlington coach Scott Peach said. "Sammy was the first to step into that role and take the defense on his back and say that he was going to be the guy to follow. I think that was a big key to our success."
The TCU recruit anchored a stingy defense that carried the team early on while the offense gained seasoning. By the time the Colts wrapped up the regular season they were a formidable group.
"There are some kids who leave for college and you're not sure how they will fit in," Peach said. "Sammy Douglas is going to make an immediate impact on TCU's program and he's going to be a big time player for Coach [Gary] Patterson."
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