In a Wylie program that places great value on senior leadership and experiences significant roster turnover each and every year, one-year starters are a common occurrence.

Unless roster holes open up early opportunities, most players are asked to wait their turn and to be ready to lead the program when it comes.

Senior cornerback Braxton Ward may be one of the best examples on the Bulldogs’ 2019 roster of this concept.

After getting the bulk of his playing time on special teams and as a backup to two seniors last season, Ward has emerged as one of Wylie’s top defensive players this year. And though his time as a Bulldog starter was a long time coming and will be relatively short in duration, he’s done his best to maximize his impact on the WHS program.