Dylan Williamson

Chaplin breaking into the open field during a run against Oak Grove.

Since he was 5 years old, Caman Chaplin knew that football was his future. From his time playing in the Tiny Mite Division of Pop Warner football, he realized his own potential for greatness on the field.
“I played Tiny Mite back when I was 5 and when I realized how fast I was and that I could use my speed and agility to my advantage. I realized that this was a sport that I could dominate,” Chaplin said.
Today, Chaplin is the star running back and a major piece in a revived Titan offense that has led the team to a 4-1 record through the first half of the regular season. A year ago he shattered the single-season school record for rushing yards, which was previously set by quarterback Jaylen Alexander at 1259, as Chaplin ran for 1637 yards in 11 games. This record-breaking achievement displays his level of dedication to football, and in the eyes of head coach Kevin Wallace, that commitment to excellence is present on and off the field.
“He’s a good kid, smart on the field but when he was going through a little bit of an injury he was great with the other running backs, coaching them up on every play and telling them what he saw on every play, really a big help,” Wallace said.
Among his peers Caman isn’t just a great player, but also an important leader on the team. His commitment to football isn’t just apparent to his coaches, but to his teammates as well, who are inspired to get better every day in part because of his passion for doing so.
“Caman leads by example with his effort, discipline and talent. He is a great example for the younger guys to learn how to act when off the field,” wide receiver Hayden Magaha said.
One of Chaplin’s greatest strengths is his ability to adapt to a variety of situations that have been thrown at him, particularly over the course of last offseason. For one, he has had to adjust to the more versatile and physical offensive scheme employed by Coach Wallace, who was hired as head coach following the end of last season. Additionally, as Coach Wallace briefly referenced, Chaplin was dealing with a soft tissue injury in his leg coming into this season that sidelined him for the first game.
“Probably the biggest challenge of my career has been the injuries I’ve had to deal with all the time. Trying to manage coming back from injuries is always a challenge,” Chaplin said.
Looking towards to his future, Chaplin is still in the college recruitment process and currently holds several offers, including Division 1 schools Wofford College and the Naval Academy. While playing college football is a longer-term goal for Chaplin, the success of this year’s football team is his top priority, and he hopes to contribute to that by topping his achievements from last season.
“Breaking the record for rushing yards…I want to try and beat that record again this year,” Chaplin said.
So far this season, Chaplin has been tracking to do just that. Despite missing the first game, and without including the potential of any postseason games, he is still on pace to break his own record he set in 11 games last year in just nine games this season. In fact, Chaplin’s 189.5 rushing yards per game currently ranks 9th in the state and is over 40 yards higher than what he averaged a year ago.
The steady leadership and continuous strive towards excellence displayed by Chaplin has been a cornerstone in the bright beginning of this new era of Titan Football. Not only will his name be forever etched in the West record books, but his legacy as a foundational building block for the future of the team will be as well.

Fun Facts
Pregame meal: Chicken, protein shake
Hype song: Faneto by Chief Keef
Favorite Athlete: Barry Sanders, Walter Payton
Sport other than football he would play: Lacrosse