Versatile Brownstown Central senior headed to Hanover

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Brownstown Central senior Kyle Kramer’s willing to play any position on the field for Hanover College’s football team.

Whether it’s quarterback, receiver, running back, defensive back, linebacker or punter — if it makes the team better, you will find him there.

Kramer recently decided he would attend the college to study electrical engineering while also joining the football team.

In his final season with the Braves, Kramer made the All-Mid-Southern Conference and All-Region 10 teams, among other honors.

The quarterback finished his final campaign with 791 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns, 1,292 passing yards and 14 passing TDs.

As a defensive back, Kramer had nine total tackles.

He also had 533 punting yards on 17 attempts (long of 64).

“I will play wherever the coach puts me,” Kramer said. “As long as I get to play the sport I love, I will be fine.”

For Kramer, it came down to a pair of schools.

“I was looking at Franklin College and Hanover, really,” Kramer said. “Hanover, I’ve been there a few times throughout the years. They also have the major I want to go into.

“In the past, they’ve struggled. They’re starting to grow and get better. They’re a younger team, so I like that.”

Last season, the NCAA Division III Panthers finished 4-6, including 4-4 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Second-year head coach Matthew Theobald leads the program, returning to his alma mater prior to the start of the 2016 season.

Prior to taking over the Panthers, Theobald spent 13 seasons at Franklin.

Braves coach Reed May said that Kramer’s a tireless worker in the weight room and on the field.

“With the offense we run (at Brownstown Central), it’s kind of hard to tell where he will play in college,” May said. “He was a running back prior to his sophomore year. We moved him to quarterback because of what we do offensively.

“He’s a good athlete that does a lot of things well. One thing I definitely think he can do is be a punter. I told him and the coach that. Where he plays offensively and defensively is to be determined. He can be a QB, RB, DB, LB. He’s a really strong kid and I think he will put on some weight.”

The 2016 Braves football team now has three players committed to playing college ball after graduation, and all are staying in Indiana.

Kramer said he couldn’t give up playing football now that his high school career has ended.

“I just really love the sport and playing with friends,” Kramer said. “I don’t want to stop.”

Drew Shoemaker, a 2014 Brownstown grad, also will be on the team with Kramer next season.

“Our kids are kids who like to stay close to home,” May said. “Coach Theobald is building up the program. It think more kids will go there in the future. It’s a nice school and I think their football program is starting to turn around.”

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