Last year Centennial's Daniel Conklin was told he may never play football again. This year he is back on the field and picking up right where he left off.
File photo by Richard Chavez
Eleven months ago,
Daniel Conklin was told his football career was likely over.
"I was angry when my doctor told me that," said Conklin, who had to endure a total of four surgeries after breaking his right femur six games into his junior season. "Those words of doubt even gave me more motivation to come back."
Has he ever.
The
Centennial (Las Cruces) senior running back has not only come back from a career-threatening injury, but he's also returned to the form that allowed him to rush for 616 yards on 99 carries in just over half a season of action last year.
"Daniel has always had great determination," Centennial coach Aaron Ocampo said. "He's a hard worker and a great kid, and someone who has always wanted to prove he's belonged."
The Hawks (1-1), who play at Fabens (Texas) Friday at 7 p.m., are trying to rebound after last week's demoralizing 46-7 loss to Atrsico Heritage Academy (Albuquerque).
Things went much more smoother for Centennial in a season-opening 35-12 win over Ruidoso, when the 6-foot, 170-pound Conklin finished with 166 yards rushing.
Conklin's comeback is even more impressive when you consider the fact that in the weight room he's squatting just as much as he was last year, and running the same time in the 40-yard dash.
Not bad for an athlete who had to relearn all of the basic motor coordination skills during a grueling rehab process.
"The toughest part was learning how to walk again," Conklin said. "Actually, it all started with just learning how to point my toes in a certain direction and bending my knee. It all started coming back slowly after that."
Slow being the operative word, as Conklin finally developed the strength to run again four months clear of his fourth surgery. Conklin initially had to have emergency surgery because one of his bones was near an artery.
Daniel Conklin, Centennial
File photo by Richard Chavez
Conklin broke his femur — it's the largest and strongest bone in the human body — on the night of Oct. 12, in the team's sixth game against Hot Springs (Truth or Consequences).
After having surgery that same night, Conklin soon developed a blood clot, so he needed to go under the knife again four days later. The next two surgeries came a week apart, and involved draining all the excess fluid from his leg.
There's a 10-inch scar from the top of his right knee to his hip, a visible reminder to Conklin of his injury and just how vital the femur is to the body.
"I'm grateful," Conklin said. "I don't have to be sad anymore looking at that scar. I see it as a battle wound."
From the moment he woke up from his initial surgery, Conklin was engulfed with love. His parents, siblings, grandparents, teammates and coaches all spent time at his bedside, fueling him with inspiration and a feeling that nothing is impossible.
"The fact that they all came to see me in my worst moment meant the most," Conklin said. "The entire coaching staff came in and told me they were looking forward to seeing me play again my senior year. I really needed that because at that point I couldn't even walk."
Even though he isn't the biggest tailback around, Conklin plays larger than his size. He has a battering ram mentality, rarely side-stepping his way around the field.
"I'm a north-south runner," he said. "I like contact and running straight ahead for yards."
"Daniel is one of those guys who doesn't go down on first contact," Ocampo said. "There's just something inside of him, a will and determination that's hard to teach."
The son of a football coach, Conklin has been around the game all of his life. His early years were devoted to being a tackling dummy to his older brother, Isaiah, who is now playing for a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
"I just remember my brother hitting me a lot," Conklin said. "Football has been a part of me for my entire life. That's why I had the motivation never to quit. All the people I love helped me get through this. I owe them something back, and the only thing I can do to pay them back is play the game in a way that shows I truly love it."
