Trojans standout aims to make senior season count

Trinity tight end Caleb Cumbie understands the position new Trojans head football coach Chris Jensen finds himself in. Last season, Cumbie was elevated to the varsity for the first time, giving him a much bigger share of the responsibility for continuing the program’s tradition of success.

Cumbie (6-1, 242 lbs.) played a vital role in the Trojans offense during last season’s run to the state quarterfinals, but the senior didn’t expect to be honored with a first-team all-district selection.

“I was surprised, wasn’t expecting it, but I was voted onto first team unanimously – it was a slap in the face, it was kind of good,” he said.

It was Cumbie’s first year on varsity too. He played on junior varsity his sophomore campaign, working hard to earn a spot on former head coach Steve Lineweaver’s team.

“I needed to work hard to get on varsity. I wanted the coaches to notice my efforts,” Cumbie said. “I told the coaches I’ll play anywhere, I just want to help the team win.”

“I grew up watching Trinity, watching them do the haka. I wanted to play for them and do the haka with those guys, the whole nine yards,” Cumbie added. “When I finally got up there, it was so surreal. That first game, I ran through the tunnel and onto the field, seeing the crowd and the lights – it was very humbling.”

Cumbie wasn’t always a tight end. He has been playing football for the past decade, something he takes after his father, who played offensive guard at Arlington Lamar and the University of Texas-El Paso.

“I was playing soccer and baseball and it wasn’t cutting it. I was having fun, but there was something missing,” he said. “My father said ‘tackle football’ and I tried it and fell in love with it.

“The passion for it, the speed, intensity, hitting – there’s nothing more satisfying than putting someone on their back.”

He started off as fullback and linebacker, and though similar in some ways, Cumbie says tight end is a more gritty position.

“It’s similar to fullback with the blocking and each position gets the ball occasionally, but it’s more gritty and intense, trying to block the defensive line,” he said.

Cumbie says he watches a lot of Dallas Cowboys games and studies all-pro tight end Jason Witten.

“I try to watch his footwork and try to mimic him, learn the fundamentals of getting low against the smaller linemen and moving my feet,” he said.

Now entering his final year with the Trojans, Cumbie and his teammates are working hard to prepare for their opener against Concord De La Salle (Calif.).

Despite a new head coach, Cumbie says since Jensen has worked with Lineweaver for so long, it’s like not getting a new coach at all.

“Jensen isn’t going to change what Lineweaver built, it’s the same offense – he’ll stay true to what Lineweaver taught,” Cumbie said.

“We’re all working our tails off toward a common goal. We’re focused on De La Salle,” he added.

As for the next level, Cumbie hasn’t received any offers, but a few smaller schools are interested in him. He hopes to major in criminal justice and be a police officer or detective.

“If I had to pick one, I’d go to Baylor – that’s where my mom went,” Cumbie said. “Whatever school it is, my main goal is college and if football is the way to go, than that’s great.”

Cumbie and the rest of the Trojans are excited for the season to start, and if another all-district selection is in the cards, that’s fine, but Cumbie is just going to work as hard as he can, game in and game out.

“I want to make this last year with Trinity count. I want to help the team and do what they need to get some good wins,” he said.

“I take one game at a time, focus on what I need to do and at the end of the season, if all-district comes, then awesome, but if it doesn’t I’ll know I played each game my very best – I play every game like it’s my last and leave everything out on the field.”

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Trojans standout aims to make senior season count."