Austin’s leader for training in the trenches

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Although football begins at the line of scrimmage, most of the attention is typically on skill positions like quarterback and wide receiver. Before you can have success in those roles, you need the big men in the trenches playing the offensive and defensive line.

It’s a thankless job, with a ton of responsibility.

“It’s pretty much just O-lineman and D-lineman just bashing heads,” said Bastrop high school senior defensive lineman Tiki Hola.

It takes a lot to play the position. It takes even more to switch from linebacker to offensive tackle. But Jeremiah Byers, a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals, made the change after his junior year of high school.

“You don’t get your name in the paper. It’s not a glitz and glam position. Nobody knows about the O-line unless you’re doing something bad.” said Byers.

Byers made the change successfully thanks to Nine-0 Elite Training Academy, ran by Carlos Chester Sr. The Academy is based in central Texas and focused on developing young men that play either side of the line of scrimmage.

“Myself, being able to go to the pinnacle, playing at the highest level, I know what it takes,” said Chester. After’s Chester’s NFL career was cut short due to injuries, he found his calling.

“I would not be anywhere to the ability I would be at without this,” said Weiss high school senior Jerald Mays. “I wouldn’t be good at football. I’m telling you, I was really bad. Without coming to Nine-0. Without doing all this, I don’t even know if I would be playing football right now.”

The development at Nine-0 has helped send kids to elite collegiate programs such as Texas Tech, UTEP, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Michigan. But the training isn’t for the weak.

“I don’t try to disguise it. I try to run kids off,” said Chester. “It’s not for everybody so we want to make sure if you here, you’re going to be consistent and greatness is what you want to achieve.”

That mindset has spilled over into the youth showing up to become better at the line of scrimmage.

“This is definitely my ministry and what I’ve been chosen to do in life and any day you get up to be able to do what you love doing is a blessing.”