Quick study: Murphy’s CJ Milburn is The Herald’s Defensive Player of the Year

Published 8:27 am Sunday, December 7, 2008

Until his sophomore season, CJ Milburn had never been a linebacker.

Known more as an offensive player, Milburn was encouraged to switch defensive positions from cornerback to linebacker before the start of his second year of football at Archbishop Murphy High School. He had a rough start with Wildcats assistant coach Jerry Jensen, who coached linebackers.

“Our first practice he screamed at me because I had no idea what I was doing,” Milburn said. “Then, slowly but surely, I became a decent linebacker.”

Understatement alert. Milburn, the 2008 Cascade Conference defensive most valuable player, is much more than decent. From his middle linebacker spot, the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder spearheaded an Archbishop Murphy defense that helped the Wildcats get to the Class 2A state semifinals.

Milburn led the Wildcats in tackles and came up with many memorable, punishing hits. His impact constantly impressed first-year Murphy head coach Dave Ward.

“Pound for pound, he’s as hard a hitter as you’ll ever see in high school and such a solid tackler. It’s a thrill to be able to coach a kid like that,” Ward said.

For leading an effective defense that consistently clamped down on opponents, the hard-hitting Milburn is The Herald’s 2008 All-Area Defensive Football Player of the Year.

Guidance from coach Jensen, now Murphy’s defensive coordinator, was pivotal in Milburn’s development, said Milburn. From analyzing film to teaching perfect technique, Jensen pushed Milburn to get better every day.

“He taught me well. I just tried to learn as much as I can from him and take him as my mentor,” said Milburn, a defensive starter since the end of his sophomore season.

Milburn is wise to heed Jensen. A 1993 Cascade High graduate, Jensen was an All-Pac-10 Conference First Team linebacker and captain at the University of Washington and spent two seasons with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

“I take everything he says to heart,” Milburn said. “He knows what’s best for me. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

Asked how he helped Milburn, Jensen deflected credit by referring to an old football saying: Linebackers are born, not made.

Two years ago Milburn already had the right physical traits, Jensen said, and he quickly absorbed the finer points of being a linebacker, like reading the offense and flying to the ball. Another tip Milburn picked up is the concept of hip roll and extension, which turns a decent tackler into a devastating hitter. Defenders who use the technique properly generate great force by loading up their lower-body muscles and fully extending through a tackle, said Jensen.

The method takes time to master, Jensen said, and Milburn got progressively better at it. An example came in Murphy’s first game of the 2008 season, Jensen said. Lynden was driving in the third quarter and was 2 yards from the end zone. On fourth down, Milburn zipped through the middle and blasted Lynden’s quarterback, ending the threat. It was a key sequence in Murphy’s 26-15 victory.

Milburn, who hopes to play in college but not committed to anyone, dominated against 1A and 2A competition. But how would he have done at a bigger school?

“It wouldn’t matter what level in high school — he would be a middle linebacker. Any team that I’ve ever been associated with would love to have him in the middle. He could play for any of the teams I’ve ever coached,” said coach Ward, who guided Oak Harbor to the 4A state title in 2006.

Unlike some motormouthed athletes, Milburn is a quiet leader who “plays his heart out,” Ward said. The linebacker — a two-way starter who as a fullback was Murphy’s leading rusher — was always focused and eager to learn, Jensen said: “He’s not one that’s rambunctious or talks a lot, but when it’s time to go out and play football he’s ready to play. Sometimes kids with that demeanor are easier to work with.”

Wary of accepting too much credit, Milburn praised teammates on the defensive line for setting him up for success. Said Milburn, “They just keep those linemen off me so I can run and make the tackle.”

Once Milburn got a clear shot at the ball carrier, the play was pretty much over.

The former cornerback clearly found his calling.

“He can kind of do it all from that middle linebacker spot,” Ward said. “It’s a great position for him.”

Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.