Deonte Lindsey has changed the thought process of Bradley Central High School football coaches. A team that has favored a slower-paced, grinding offense all of a sudden has pizzazz to go with its power.

Sprinters will do that, especially those who register hand-timed 4.3-second showings in the 40-yard dash, which Lindsey did consistently last spring during track season.

“Deonte is faster than what we normally have at Bradley,” coach Damon Floyd said.

Lindsey rushed for more than 900 yards while sharing the tailback spot, and he averaged more than 9 yards per carry on a team that finished 2-8.

“We’ll try to get him the ball in a lot of different ways,” Floyd said. “We’ll hand it to him a lot, we’ll pitch it to him a lot and we’ll throw to him. We’ll get him the ball as quickly as we can and let him create some things.

“He is tough enough to run between the tackles, but he still likes to bounce everything (outside). Lowering his shoulder and getting 3 or 4 yards every play is not what he wants to do. He believes he can score on every play.”

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Lindsey, who transferred from Walker Valley after his sophomore season, will be the Bears’ tailback but will also line up as a slot receiver in addition to playing cornerback and safety.

“He can cover half the field as a cornerback, but he is more valuable to us offensively,” Floyd said. “I thought at first that he might be a better defensive prospect for colleges, but after seeing him in the passing league this summer I think he could be a slot receiver. He catches the ball really well.”

Tennessee, which is among the schools recruiting Lindsey, reportedly likes him as a defender, but the Vols could find themselves in a race with Alabama, Auburn and Louisville, other early entrants for his services. Other schools who have contacted Lindsey or Floyd include Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Marshall and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“I haven’t had it like this before, and I never thought it would come,” Lindsey said of the cards, letters, E-mails, text messages and phone calls that are coming his way. “It’s got me thinking, ‘Man, what do I do now?’”

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