Norman High's Zac Uhles turns a corner

He was confident at center, but that confidence was lost with the move.

“It really took a toll on me,” Uhles said. “I didn't really know the position. I was playing all right, but things weren't going great.”

Slowly, though, Uhles grew into the spot. The schemes came to him. The footwork came to him. And suddenly, he saw more than just two more years of football in his future.

“Once I got that stuff down, I started thinking I could play in college,” Uhles said.

That wasn't much of a surprise. His cousin, Lance, played at Norman North and is now at Emporia State. His grandfather, Charley North, was a longtime assistant coach at places like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas A&M and currently helps out as an assistant with Norman. His uncle, Lance's dad, played at OU under North.

Football is something that came with the family.

“I love it,” Uhles said of the sport. “I wouldn't trade it for anything. Just being able to hit guys every play, opening holes for the running back, everything about it.”

Now, about a year since he felt unsure about himself, Uhles is committed to the University of Tulsa.

He's also one of the latest additions to The Oklahoman's Super 30 list of the state's top recruits for 2013, coming in at No. 29.