TAMPA — When Plant coach Robert Weiner first saw Orson Charles play two offseasons ago in a seven-on-seven game, one thing stood out.
"I remember turning to (former Plant quarterback) Robert Marve," Weiner recalled earlier this season, "and saying, 'Do you see the size of his calves?' "
At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Charles, who transferred from Riverview last spring, is a specimen. With speed to boot, the senior receiver creates a mismatch on every play. And he enters Plant's Class 4A region final rematch with Armwood as the county's leading receiver (1,164 yards, 17 TDs).
"He's a difference maker," Weiner said. "He's one of the few guys in our county who has the ability to single-handedly take over a game from a position that's not the quarterback position."
The other thing that stands out is his swagger. Charles doesn't hesitate to get loud in order to pump up teammates.
"Once you get beyond the bravado, our kids have found that there's a heart of gold," Weiner said. "It might have taken some time just because of how 'Orson' he is, but I think our kids have really found what the essence of Orson is. When you're confident and enthusiastic and energetic and loud like he is, people mistake that for selfishness and lack of humility."
Weiner admits it took time for the essence of Orson to catch on. And while teammates have learned to feed off it, teams like Armwood want to shut him up.
"If anyone's down at practice, I'm the one to bring it up," Charles said. "I just start yelling and making plays and they start catching on."
As a player, however, Charles is difficult to stop. And tonight he will play a larger role than in Week 1. In that game, Charles played about 10 snaps at defensive end. His role there has increased, as has his productivity — Charles had two sacks in last week's win over Bradenton Southeast.
"He is terrorizing to watch as a defensive player," Weiner said. "But now it's even more so because it seems like he's got a good feel for what he's doing."
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