Catonsville's Weedon Takes Part in Crab Bowl

Like he's done all season—and his three pervious years with the Comets—Catonsville high school's Tyler Weedon made his presence felt at the third annual Crab Bowl, Saturday afternoon at Bowie State University.

The 5'10", 215-pound linebacker totaled six tackles and forced and recovered a fumble during the all-star game, which pits the Baltimore area's best seniors against the finest upperclassmen Washington D.C. schools have to offer.

Weedon's effort helped secure the Baltimore squad's first ever win in the Crab Bowl, 21-17.

The senior earned a trip to the prominent game by amassing an astonishing number of tackles in his four-year career, including 106 tackles this season, despite opposing offenses literally game planning against him.

It wasn't until Catonsville's playoff game against North Harford that a team didn't scheme their attack based on Weedon. As a result, he piled up 18 tackles on the night.

Weedon recorded 135 tackles in 2009 and 148 tackles as a sophomore in 2008—a nearly 15 tackle per game average.

The four-year varsity standout also made an impact this season on offense.

As the lead blocking back in Catonsville's power-I offense, Weedon spearheaded a rushing attack that compiled 2,884 yards and 36 touchdowns.

On his own, Weedon carried 103 times for 722 yards (7.0 yards per rush) and 12 touchdowns.  

He also returned a fumble for touchdown against state runner-up Franklin.

"He's a difference maker. On defense, teams base their offense to go around him," assistant coach Eric Warm said. "When we're on offense and we run the ball as frequently as we do, every play stems with him laying the block on the run. After the first few plays the defensive ends stop crashing in—they don't want to get hit. Now Tyler is hitting the linebackers and forcing the secondary to make the tackle. Every run play was stemmed by him."

When asked to sum up his remarkable four years at Catonsville, the perpetually quiet Weedon provided a modest answer.

"I'm definitely satisfied. I feel like I did better than expected," he said. "I guess I did pretty good. I'm pretty happy with it." 

This comes as no surprise to Warm, who has also served as Weedon's wrestling coach for four years and witnessed his workman attitude.

"He's a silent leader. He doesn't yell at practice or try and get guys fired up. He's cool, calm and collected," Warm said. "He goes out and does his job every day. He makes his hits and makes his plays, doesn't celebrate when he does something good and he doesn't punch the ground when he does something bad. He keeps his emotions inside."

Although he's stood out at linebacker for four years, college scouts envision Weedon playing fullback at the next level. He's received the strongest interest from Towson University and McDaniel College.

Weedon, the youngest of four, has amazed and delighted his father, who's become a mainstay at football games and wrestling matches. Joe Weedon could be located every Friday night, bouncing up and down the sideline—as boisterous  and energetic as Tyler is calm and reserved—rooting for the Comets.

He says he's never missed one of his son's games or meets and attends virtually every practice.

"I've never missed a game. When I miss a game it'll mean I've passed on," the elder Weedon said. "It's unreal. Between the wrestling and the football and the excitement involved in it, I would've never imagined it. I never could have expected this out of one kid."