Chapter One: The Human Passing Machine

The coordinator rewound his tablet. On the frozen image, the safety had indeed loaded his left foot for less than half a second. For the first time, Grant used Kai's name. “Lin. Run the next set.” Marcus's stare was a blade. Kai entered the huddle and faced center Deshawn “Mountain” Cole, a six-foot-five, 320-pound wall with a beard. Mountain was the offensive captain and the locker room's final court of appeal. *Another kid climbing through someone else's wound. Let's see if he stands after a real hit.* Kai called Silver Right Eight-Cross. Two linebackers crowded the line. The safety stayed deep, presenting a standard double-gap bluff. Then the truths came. *I'm dropping,* thought the left linebacker.