While much of the focus in Oklahoma this week will be on the Backyard Bowl matchup between Jenks and Union, a team from the western part of the state, the Mustang Broncos, hopes to turn some heads this year with outstanding lineman Bronson Irwin leading the way.
Irwin, who has already committed to Oklahoma, is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman ranked 94th among all players on Tom Lemming’s Top 100 and third among offensive centers/guards. He has been timed at 5.1 in the 40-yard dash and bench presses 360 pounds while squatting 500. More importantly to Mustang coach Ty Prestidge, Irwin continues to be a team leader.
“He is our only returning lineman and he is not just a teammate; he’s also a coach on the field,” said Prestidge. “Through both our scrimmages, he played like a high school player wanting to get better as opposed to someone who has already committed to the University of Oklahoma. This attitude alone has elevated the players around him to understand the importance of improving.”
The Broncos finished 12-1 last year with the only loss coming in the third round of the playoffs to eventual 6A state runner-up Jenks, 35-20. Mustang should be in the mix again this year, according to Irwin, but he admits that the teams from the eastern part of the state are tough to beat.
“Our goal is to be undefeated and win a state championship,” said the three-year starter. “Our toughest competition always seems to be when we meet up with a team from the east in the playoffs such as a Jenks or Union. They are always tough because they are established programs on their side of the state, just as we are on the west side.”
Still, Irwin likes his team’s chances.
"I expect us to win our district and host two home playoff games,” he said. “I also think that we have the potential to go all the way, but potential doesn’t win ball games.”
Prestidge says he noticed Irwin’s potential as early as his sophomore year.
“In a scrimmage against Jenks his sophomore season he showed promising signs of become a great offensive lineman,” Prestidge said. “He has a great attitude, he’s an outstanding student and he is a model citizen in our community.”
Irwin says he first felt that he might be able to play at the Division I level during the summer following his sophomore year.
“It was at Tulsa team camp when they started really talking to me and gave me my first scholarship offer,” Irwin said. “It’s exciting to know that you will be playing against the best players in the country. And also playing in the big games will be an exciting experience.”
Both Irwin’s father and his uncle played at the University of Central Oklahoma in the 1980s, and Irwin credits his father with helping him to become a better player.
“He played O-line in college so he has helped me a lot,” Irwin said. “He also coached me all through Little League.”
A part-time starter as a sophomore, Irwin established himself as one of the nation’s top young linemen during his junior season. He had 63 pancake blocks while making the Big All-City team and earning honorable mention all-state honors. At the Shuman’s Top 100 camp in Norman, Irwin won the O-line MVP award.
“It was really cool to compete against some of the top players in the country,” he said.
The Broncos opened their season last week with a wild one, defeating Yukon 53-47. Mustang played its second game on Thursday, traveling to take on Edmond North. A city of just over 10,000 people, Mustang shows tremendous support for its local football programs.
“In Mustang, we turn the town out for our games and our fans support us every year,” Irwin said. “There is no atmosphere like it.”
Irwin might find a similar atmosphere next year when he straps on the gear to play for the Sooners in Norman.
