Bayer flying high with the Hawks

North Harford High has never produced a Division I or I-AA player, according to Hawks coach, Ken Brinkman, and various recruiting services. That's not to say North Harford hasn't had any talent. They've been to the playoffs almost every year this decade and that didn't happen by trotting out a bunch of scrubs.

Last year their fullback, Nate Belak, had I-AA potential but may have been just a step too slow. And the year before running back Brian Woolson, who's now at Salisbury, was getting plenty of college interest. But untimely injuries led to his downfall.

This year, junior running back Brandon Bayer is the Hawks' hope. A hard-nosed, rugged runner, Bayer exploded for 1,373 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2009. Now, he's looking to bust through an even tougher defense: the wall separating him from elite college football.

"With all the talent we've had here I'm surprised there hasn't been some Division I or at least I-AA players," Bayer said. "I'm going to do my best to change that and help put North Harford on the map."

Bayer has as good of a chance as any ex-Hawk. At 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds he doesn't have ideal size, but height hardly matters for running backs anymore. What does matter is strength, speed and elusiveness. Put all three together, and a Division I 'back is born. Bayer, for his part, has two of the three. That should be enough to sniff the I-AA level (William and Mary is reportedly interested, and Bayer recently visited the school).

"Depending on what a school is looking for, I could see him playing tailback at I-AA," Brinkman said. "Brandon compares talent-wise to Brian [Woolson] and he's a little healthier. And he's more athletic than Nate [Belak]. Brandon can go outside and inside, between the tackles and on the edge. He's more versatile. He has a chance to play college football at a high level."

Bayer is indeed a multi-faceted runner, but his forte is straight-ahead power. In the weight room he can squat close to 450 pounds, evidenced by his body-builder thick legs.

Last year against Fallston, Bayer needed every ounce of leg strength in churning out a tough 25-yard run. He took a hand-off up the gut and charged into the heart of the defense. After a brief rugby scrum, in which Bayer broke numerous tackles, he tore into the second level. A linebacker immediately jumped on his back and a safety shot in with a lowered shoulder. Undeterred, Bayer shrugged off the linebacker and overpowered the safety with a brutal stiff arm.

Now he was into the secondary. Another safety ran over and dove for Bayer's knees. Bayer couldn't break free, but he dragged the defender seven more yards before finally succumbing.

"That's the most powerful run I've had," Bayer said. "I'm not the fastest or most explosive runner, but when I hit the hole one guy can't bring me down. It's going to take three guys."

Around North Harford, the coaches sometimes compare Bayer to Toby Gearhart. Like the Stanford star, Bayer has a blue-collar work ethic and a downhill running style.

"He runs low to the ground … and hard," Brinkman said. "He'll run right through you. And he's fast enough for our league."

But fast enough for college?

Therein lies Bayer's problem. He's currently clocking in at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash, which - fair or not -- almost certainly eliminates him from the Division I level. Bayer is working feverishly to improve.

"I'm running track now," Bayer said. "I hope to get my 40 down in the 4.6 range by spring."

Brinkman admits his prospect needs to turn on the jets, but he still thinks Bayer is getting a raw deal. He points to Bayer's game against Aberdeen when he rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

On a fourt-and-1 from North Harford's own 10-yard line, the Hawks took a page out of Bill Belichick's book and decided to go for the first down. They handed to Bayer, who hit the hole and picked up the yard they needed … plus 69 more. Bayer broke a tackle and then out-ran the safeties and the linebackers until a cornerback finally caught him at the 6.

"We've been through this before with schools judging guys based on 40 times, but when you put his film on he's a load and a playmaker," Brinkman said. "He doesn't have breakaway speed, but he makes up for that with vision, cuts and instincts in the open field."

Speed or no speed, Bayer does have a trump card working in his favor. He currently boasts a 3.8 GPA and is on the honor roll.

"I take a lot of pride in my school work," Bayer said. "I never want to get more than two 'Bs' on my report card."

Combining awesome grades with solid football talent is a recipe for Ivy and Patriot League success. Schools in those conferences don't give out athletic scholarships, but they have been known to offer significant financial aid to football stars with brainpower.

Brinkman has already fielded calls from Cornell, Harvard, Yale and Brown asking for Bayer's film.

"He gets it done academically and that will only help him get recruited," Brinkman said.

Bayer is deadest on playing college football, preferably at a higher level. And if his grades help him get there, then he's all for the academic institutions.

"Ivy schools are tough, but one of my main goals is to play college football," Bayer said. "I'll do what it takes to get there. I know I don't run with a typical style, but I'm hoping someone will give me a chance."

No upper-echelon football schools gave Belak or Woolson a chance. Time will tell if Bayer can get his.