College Football: Former Mason High Star Battles for Playing Time at William & Mary

WILLIAMSBURG – Stephen Lubnow is looking to help The College of William & Mary Tribe win football games, but it won’t be from his familiar spot as a safety.

The walk-on red-shirt freshman made the switch from the secondary to outside linebacker  for the Tribe during the team’s spring workouts. Lubnow, 19, said he isn’t intimidated by the move and just wants the chance to contribute on the field.

During the team’s Green-Gold game Saturday at Walter J. Zable Stadium, Lubnow got to step on the field in a game situation for the first time in more than a year in his new position.

“It was fun and a good experience,” Lubnow said. “It was good to get back out there.”

Scott Boone said Lubnow is transitioning well into his new position. Boone, defensive coordinator for the last three years for the Tribe, said Lubnow and the other freshmen in the linebacker corps ran with the second and third teams this spring.

“He’s done well so far and he’s done all we’ve asked him to do,” Boone said. “He’s not getting in there and getting pummeled.”

Lubnow arrived in Williamsburg before the start of the 2012 football season from George Mason High School. He was the sixth football player from Mason to reach the Division I-AA (Football Championship Series) level or higher during the Tom Horn era.

His senior season, Lubnow was named team Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 113 tackles (79 solo), four forced fumbles, defended five passes and had an interception in seven games. He was also named first team all-Bull Run District in 2010 and 2011. Lubnow was also named All-Region those seasons.

Lubnow flashed around the field during Saturday’s spring game coming free on a blitz, covering in the flat and delivering a crushing blow on another play, drawing oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Feeding off the crowd reaction is something Lubnow thrives on, and he says it speaks volumes of college football fans. Though the supportive cheers are motivating, it’s the freshman’s passion that keeps him going.

“I have a passion for the game and being around people with the same passion increases my own,” Lubnow said.

With spring practices over, Lubnow said he plans on focusing on strength and watching film to fix the kinks in his new position. He said there are a few things he has to fix before summer camp but that most of them are just transitional hiccups.

“Being in the defensive backfield you have time to react,” he said. “When I see run I have to react to it and when I see pass I have to get into coverage.”

The Tribe opens the 2013 season at West Virginia University on Aug. 31 and opens at home on Sept. 7 against Hampton University.

For more on William & Mary’s 2013 football schedule, click here.