The Fort Bend Marshall Buffalos varsity football program is no stranger when it comes to talent. With several athletes coming from the program going to college and later into the NFL, this program has a structure that if followed has been proven to bring great success in developing the skill sets of its participants.
This season, in 5A-2 Region III play the Buffalos have three wins and two losses. Those two defeats came via a combined 15 points.
The Buffalos are young in several key positions, but one of the secondary defensive leaders is senior cornerback, Paul Lucas.
“He means a lot to our program,” said Marshall head coach James Williams. “He’s a second-year starter, he’s a playmaker and he works hard in practice. He’s determined, focused and he knows the challenge in front of him, but he’s consistently stepped up and had a great game,” said Williams.
Lucas currently leads his team in interceptions.
“I watch a lot of film, so I can study the receivers’ release,” said Lucas. “On my first pick, the receiver was running a hitch route. I saw the receiver do the one-two step and come back. When I saw him come back, I just knew what it was so I jumped the route.”
Standing 5-foot-10, Lucas is considered by some to be an undersized cornerback on a collegiate roster. But whatever some may think Lucas lacks, he makes up for it in hard work, determination and intelligence.
“Even though I’m not the biggest, the fastest or strongest, I’m the most technical,” said Lucas.
Lucas started playing football when he was four years old but he didn’t take it seriously until he turned six years old.
“I played for the Southeast Saints in the Texas Youth Football Association (TYFA) until I was 12, then moved to the Southeast Lions, then onto the central Houston Titans,” said Lucas.
During this period, Lucas began making a name for himself and people began to notice as he was featured in the CCE (Catch Cover Elite) magazine as a top 100 youth performer.
“When I made CCE I had good stats and it felt good being recognized, but I wanted to show that I was one of the best in the city, so I didn’t stop working hard,” said Lucas.
When Lucas enrolled at Ft. Bend Marshall, he played on the freshman team his freshman year, junior varsity his sophomore year, and won a starting role his junior year. During his junior season, Lucas earned second-team all-district honors.
“This season I’m going for first-team all-district. Last season I was nominated second team because being an underclassman I was still under the radar, so not many knew who I was,” said Lucas.
This is Lucas’ second year playing corner. In years past his primary position was wide receiver. He has taken the opportunity to work out with Jnewsports to sharpen his footwork and technique. He uses what he knows as a receiver and transfers that to his work at cornerback as he reads his opponent.
“There was a spot on varsity that opened up and I took it. I worked on my technique, my hands, my footwork, and here I am today,” said Lucas. “Just like [Dallas Cowboys defensive back] Trevon Diggs, he learned how to turn into the receiver. When the ball is in the air, he knows it’s about the ball. And on some of the plays that I had, I knew when the ball is in the air it’s time to turn into the receiver and go get it.”
Lucas hasn’t committed to a college yet but hopes to find a school that allows him to showcase his skills while competing against the best competition available. While in school he plans to study business, with inspiration coming from his father, who owned a barbershop.
Looking back, Lucas hopes to inspire the next wave of undersized defensive backs to continue putting in the work and staying ready.
“Be patient, wait your turn, and stay on your grind, because you never know when your time might come,” said Lucas.
About Paul Lucas
Class: 2024
IG: @ j.uicce
Twitter: @j_uicce
Position: Cornerback
Height & weight: 5-feet-10, 165 pounds
Players he studies: Trevon Diggs (Dallas Cowboys), Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos), Darius Slay (Philadelphia Eagles)
Status: Uncommitted
Favorite artists: Lil Double 0, NBA YoungBoy, YTB FATT
Favorite subject: History
Shout-outs: Fort Bend Marshall and C