Frick shifting from middle linebacker to outside LB for Kaplan this season

KAPLAN — Dane Frick will move from middle linebacker to outside linebacker for the Kaplan Pirates this season after compiling 92 tackles and earning first-team All-District honors in 2022.
Kaplan head coach Cory Brodie said Frick, who will be a junior this season, accepted a leadership role this summer, becoming a more vocal leader, along with fellow junior Bradyn Bearb.
“We’re moving Dane from middle to more of an outside backer this year, and he’s also sharing some reps at quarterback,” Brodie said. “Sabe David’s going to be our starter, but we have a few packages for (Frick) to get in there on offense.”
David and Frick will do similar things at quarterback, Brodie said, but the packages the coaches plan to use for Frick will have a few different things. Frick said he expects to be asked to both run the ball and throw it if he’s used at QB.
On defense, Frick said the move to outside linebacker will allow him to get into pass coverages more.
A one-point loss to Abbeville in the regular season finale kept Kaplan out of the playoffs last season. The Pirates are aiming to make the postseason this year, Frick said.
“(We have to) play as a family,” he said. “Teamwork.”
He’s doing his part to make sure the Pirates don’t face the same disappointment they did last year.
“All I can really do is work hard,” Frick said.
“Both (Frick and Bearb) stepped up this year as juniors,” Brodie said. “Dane Frick became our leader in the box last year with 92 tackles. Both had great sophomore campaigns. I think the next level for them this summer was when they accepted that leadership role and became more vocal guys to take control of the team that way.”