Verdigris High School’s offense will again lean on the toughness and versatility of running back and safety Peyton Stelling, a multi-sport standout who brings a family-first mentality to the Cardinals’ locker room. As the new football season approaches, Stelling said the bond he shares with his teammates is the foundation of everything they hope to accomplish on Friday nights.
“What I love most about my teammates at Verdigris is us being able to treat one another as family.”
Stelling draws inspiration from NFL running back Saquon Barkley and the way Barkley’s journey in football shaped him on and off the field. “I’m inspired by Saquon Barkley as he has a unique story on how he got into football and how it helped him grow as a person.”
On the field, Stelling embraces contact and the opportunity to impact the game from multiple spots. “I play running back and safety. I enjoy seeking opportunities to make plays and overall, just enjoy lowering my shoulder to get additional yards.”
Offseason work has built his confidence in the team’s conditioning and leadership. “Summer workouts are feeling good. We are for sure going to be conditioned as well as be rested and have our bodies prepared going into the season. Spring ball is always a fun experience being able to learn new things and try to get an idea of how the younger guys will contribute. I think that the team is in a good spot and is going to thrive off leadership. We have a great coaching staff that prepares us and supports us well.”
Track and field offers another arena where Stelling excels. “I also run track. I run the 4×100, 4×200 and the open 100 and open 200. I currently hold the school record in the open 200 with a time of 22.78 sec.”
He credits former teammate Tyler Willis as a model of what leadership should look like in the Verdigris program. “The teammate that left an impression on me was Tyler Willis because he was just always a good example and a strong leader for the team, which was very helpful for me at the time as an underclassman.”
Looking ahead, Stelling hopes to extend his playing career and pursue a future in healthcare. “After I graduate, I plan to pursue playing football at the collegiate level and become a physician assistant.”
His focus this year is sharpening his leadership and vision in big moments. “Something I learned from last year that will help me this season is how important it is to be a strong leader for your team and for yourself. The strength of my game is being able to have the vision to make a play in the moment. I’m working on improving my role as a vocal leader for my team.”
