By TAYLOR TUBBS
News-Sun correspondent
SEBRING - Suiting up in the football gear and putting on the helmet to play underneath the Friday night lights is one of the most alive feelings in the world, many say.
For many this football lifestyle ends in high school, but fortunately for Kyle Yarbrough he has been able to carry his skills with him to play on Saturdays at University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY.
Yarbrough played football at Sebring High School for four years, and recently graduated with the class of 2012.
Yarbrough has recently completed his first semester at the Cumberlands, and has really been enjoying the experience.
"I've made a lot of friends on the football team," said Yarbrough. "My first season went okay, but, like every player, I'm looking for improvement next year."
In his first season Yarbrough mostly played defensive end for a Patriot team that went 10-2 overall and 4-1 in the Mid South Conference, but he's hoping to switch things up in the coming season.
"I played nose guard a little this year too, so I'm looking to play more of that next year."
College sports are often quite a large jump up in intensity from high school, as Yarbrough can attest to.
"The game is a lot faster than high school," he said. "There's a lot more you have to learn on defense and there are a lot more plays."
Not only is the game itself more rigorous, but also so is the practice schedule, especially during training camp.
"The freshman would begin from 7-9 a.m. to help us learn the plays on defense," said Yarbrough.
"Then the upperclassmen came out at 9 and all of the freshman practiced with them until 11. Then we had meetings at 3 p.m. to go over film and alignment. Then at 6 we had another practice until 8."
Luckily this practice pace isn't kept up year round though.
"When school started our practices were usually from 3:30 until 6:30," said Yarbrough.
With a biology major and aspirations to become a physician's assistant, Yarbrough realizes the importance of balancing academics as well as athletics.
"When I was choosing the school, I liked the academics as well as the football team."
The Cumberland team has quite an impressive record, as they have won the conference championship four out of the past five years.
"This year our team record was 10-2," said Yarbrough.
"We lost in the second round of the playoffs."
Getting along with coaches can also make a world of difference for an athlete, and Yarbrough has found just that at the Cumberlands.
"The coaches are great, they do a great job in preparing you."
All in all, Yarbrough can say that he has found a new home for himself at the Cumberlands.
"I'm happy. It's a beautiful place, a good academic school, and a good football team."
Friday, January 04, 2013 - www.newssun.com/FRI-1-4-13-Yarbrough