Land gets the job done

David Goodman doesn't want to imagine life on the football field without teammate Dylan Land playing next to him.

All Goodman has to do is go back and review film of the annual Siloam Springs Maroon-Gray Senior Bowl back in May and see what that's like.

"If you go back and watch the spring game, we were both on different sides of the ball," Goodman said. "You could tell that we didn't have very good games, and it's because he and I weren't playing side by side."

Goodman, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior, is labeled by most as the heart of the Panthers defense at inside linebacker -- recording 79 tackles, 26 assisted tackles, one interception and one defensive touchdown as a junior a year ago.

Land, however, quietly went about his business at the other inside linebacker position and had quite a season himself, registering 57 tackles, 48 assisted tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, one sack and three pass breakups.

Land may fly under the radar when it comes to the headlines, but his teammates and coaches know he's going to get the job done.

"Dylan probably means more to the team than even he realizes or more," Goodman said. "He motivates people because of how hard and how fast he plays. He plays harder than anybody else on the team."

Land, who's listed at 6-foot, 193 pounds, was one of the Panthers' biggest surprises in 2013, and he even surprised himself with how well he played.

When the Panthers lost Mitchel Dolezal to ineligibility for the first six games last year, Land moved into the starting lineup and never relinquished the position.

"They put me in, and then I did really well in the Shiloh (Christian) game at Razorback Stadium," Land said. "I started and it was awesome. It was a great feeling."

Land said prior to his junior season, the last time he was a starter on the football field was as a sixth-grader.

Land said he was primed to start as a ninth-grader for Siloam Springs when he broke his hip running after a play and missed the season.

Land returned to action as a sophomore, and that's when he began catching the attention of the coaching staff, according to head coach Bryan Ross.

"We felt like when he was a sophomore he had some tools to work with," Ross said. "I think as a sophomore he started to develop a little bit, and last year won the job. Coach (Zach) Pruitt did a good job of getting him ready to play and Dylan's done the rest."

Pruitt, who coaches the linebackers, said Land is even better this year compared to his junior season.

"Dylan knows exactly what he's got to do," Pruitt said. "He's as fast flying to the ball as any of them. His physicalness gets overlooked at times, but he's put on 10 pounds this year and kept his speed. He is as violent and physical as anybody."

Pruitt said the combination of Land and Goodman at linebacker compliment each other very well. It's hard to mention one without the other.

"They both have their strengths and weaknesses," Pruitt said. "Dave is obviously the brains of the operation. When it comes time for one of them to go play in the trenches, that's Dave's strength. When it's time for Land to run, and he gets to cut it loose and go, that's his strength. He's got a knack for getting to the ball, and he's fast to it."

Ross said the two have made each other better.

"Dave's a real rock, and I think Dylan has used Dave to make himself better," Ross said. "Of course you know it works both ways."

Goodman, who made the switch from defensive end to linebacker before his junior season, said having Land next to him helped him learn the position.

"I learned to play linebacker and it was always next to him," Goodman said. "He helped me figure out the position. It got to the point to where me and him can make reads like we're tied together with a rope. I help him flow better, and he helps me flow better. When we play next to each other, we make each other better."

Land said he and other defensive members feed off of Goodman's attitude.

"Dave's the energy source of the defense," Land said. "When we see David getting fired up, we're all getting fired up. ... I feed off Dave. I wouldn't be able to play with any other linebacker."

Defense isn't the only place where Land helps the Panthers. He's also on several special team packages, including punt, punt return, kick-off and kick-off return.

"It's really important," Land said. "It's the difference between winning and losing the game."

Land said he's ready to begin his senior season at Siloam Springs. The Panthers play at Rogers on Sept. 5.

"It's been fun, and I know it's going to be even more fun when it comes time to actually start playing," he said. "But it is stressful knowing I'm a senior, getting a new stadium, a new conference. Everybody's wanting us to do well."