ESPN RISE

Every football team needs a rock -- that one kid who is not bothered by anything and remains calm under pressure. For Fort Hill that athlete is linebacker Dakota Welsh.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Welsh was the Sentinels' second-leading tackler behind sophomore Garrett Dolly last season.

"Garrett is the guy who has all the tackles. Colton [Sibley] is the guy that runs from sideline to sideline from his defensive end position and catches the ball on offense," Fort Hill head coach Todd Appel said. "Dakota is the hardworking, blue-collar kid that gets the job done and everybody follows."

Appel recalls a story that encapsulates Welsh. The junior, who is also a member of the baseball team, was maxing out in the weight room and the blisters [from baseball practice] on his hands broke open.

"He's bleeding all over the bar and down his forearms and he doesn't pay any mind to it," Appel said. "The kids kind of look at him, but he doesn't say a word. … When he looks at them and says we can do it. They're going to believe it."

Welsh may not be the most talkative player, but on the field the junior is a hard-hitting linebacker who recorded 103 tackles last season.

Appel counts on Welsh to make the defensive calls on the field as well as all the adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

For his senior season, Welsh will also play running back, taking over for Small School second-team all-state running back Marcus Lashley.

Appel said Welsh may not be quite as athletic laterally as Lashley, but his north/south running style fits the offense perfectly.

The Sentinels return several key players from last year's Class 1A state runner-up squad and will be a favorite to return to the final at M&T Bank Stadium again this season.

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Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com