Tyler Puckett didn’t play football as a sophomore. He played only five games as a junior because of a broken thumb. But he still did enough on the field to impress college coaches. The Republic defensive end and tight end has signed a letter of intent to play at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
“He’s an outstanding defensive end and tight end for a young man who did not play his sophomore year,” says coach Wes Beachler, who points to Puckett’s honors as a junior and senior. Puckett was all-district and all-area, and all-conference honorable mention, despite playing only a season-and-a-half of varsity football.
“Very high character and very strong academic standards from him, so we’re very proud of him,” Beachler says. “We’d like younger players coming through the system to model themselves after his character and his work ethic in the classroom and on the field.”