Travis's 1st Round of WPIAL Playoff Football Player of The Week; Thomas Jefferson Athlete: Danie

Source: Trib Live HSSN

Description

Name: Daniel Deabner

School: Thomas Jefferson

Sport: Football

Position: Wide Receiver and Cornerback

Class: Junior

Claim To Fame: Deabner had 6 recpetions for 110 yards and scored 4 touchdowns in a 49-16 win over New Castle in the first round of the WPIAL 4A football playoffs. Deabner was also Travis's Player Of The Week in Week 4.

Questions And Answers

What did you guys have going right in the game against Thomas Jefferson?

Daniel Deabner: "We had everything going right for us on offense. The line gave our QB time to get the ball out into space and we made plays. On top of that, the run game was working too; so, there wasn’t a way to stop us."

You guys will play Blackhawk on Friday at Peters Township High School. If you guys win that game your whole team will go back to Heinz Field and play for a WPIAL championship, again. What do you guys need to make sure that your team beats Blackhawk?

DD: "We can’t let us stop ourselves from doing what we know we can do. The ability is there for us to stop teams on defense and makes plays on offense; so, as long as we keep our heads in the game everything will come together."

Your team has a nice field goal kicker and good soccer player in AJ Meshanko. He is a pretty good kicker. How good does it feel to have a soccer player be your team's field goal kicker?

DD: "With AJ as our kicker, we never have a doubt that he will kick it deep and put it through the uprights to give us the points we need. Without him, we would have a hard time in the kicking game; so, we are very lucky to have him."

For a football player, like yourself, what does your diest consist of?

DD: "During the week, I eat a lot of chicken and drink protein shakes to keep my body healthy. Also, on Thursday nights I eat pasta to load up on carbs before the game."

If you had to compare yourself to an NFL wide receiver, who would you compare yourself to?

DD: "Adam Thielen because he may not be the biggest and most athletic player on the field, but he works the hardest and runs perfect routes to make sure he is always open and ready to make a play."

The high school basketball season does not begin until December. Who do you think is the best Girls WPIAL basketball player going into this season?

DD: "Jenna Clark (Thomas Jefferson) because she is insanely athletic and sees the court in a different way than everyone else. She just recently committed to Yale which will fit her very well. No doubt she will be a dominant player this upcoming season."

Who is the coolest celebrity that you have ever met?

DD: "Ryan Shazier is the coolest celebrity I’ve ever met. I saw him at the movie theater and we asked him for a picture and he went out of his way to do that for us even though he was out with his family."

If you had to pick someone from your school to be the President of the United States, who would it be and why?

DD: "Max Shaw would be a great President of the United States. He’s a great leader for our team and always knows what’s best for everyone."

Besides Thomas Jefferson, which WPIAL football team do you think has the nicest stadium?

DD: "Other than our stadium, I think Belle Vernon has the nicest stadium."

Name me a song that can get you pumped before a football game.

DD: "One song that always get me pumped up is "Nonstop" by Drake."