Derby High running back Arieus Finley Jr. has already proven he can put up big numbers.
Known as “Baby Air,” Finley rushed for nearly 1,600 yards and earned First-Team All-Conference honors during his junior season. The senior, who has played on Derby’s varsity squad since his freshman year, has committed to play NCAA Division I football at South Dakota.
Now, after missing Derby’s first two games with a hamstring injury, Finley is set to make his season debut Friday with some lofty goals.
“The expectation is that we go undefeated,” Finley told The Voice.
He also wants to rush for at least 2,000 yards, help Derby win a state championship and earn Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
For Derby assistant coach Eric Hendrick, however, some of Finley’s biggest growth has come away from the field.
Hendrick has had a firsthand view of Finley’s recovery from several nagging injuries over the past year. His wife has also played an integral role in Finley’s rehabilitation.
“Our best times probably weren’t on the field,” Hendrick said. “It’s when he is at the house getting treatment, and we’re talking about school and life, and not necessarily about football.”
Last season, Finley suffered a knee injury before the opener and tried to return too quickly.
“He tried to rush back because he felt like he was missing something,” Hendrick said.
Finley went on to have a standout season despite battling injuries, including an ankle injury that forced him to miss a playoff game. Hendrick said the experience taught Finley an important lesson about allowing his body time to recover.
“This year, he’s hurt again, but is handling it significantly better than he previously did,” Hendrick said.
Lofty Expectations
Finley has also taken on a bigger leadership role entering his senior season.
“I’m just trying to be a big brother to all the little guys and make sure that everybody is comfortable on the field,” he said.
Finley may not have the size of a prototypical power back, but Hendrick said his combination of strength, speed, balance and elusiveness makes him difficult to tackle.
“He’s crazy strong,” Hendrick said. “I’ve seen him run through tackles, and he’s also elusive. He can make you miss in a phone booth.”
Finley’s balance also allows him to bounce off tackles, change direction quickly and still accelerate.
“He can get to the edge and go,” Hendrick said.
Hendrick even compared Finley’s running style to Wichita native and NFL legend Barry Sanders.
“He is Barry Sanders-like as far as his balance and stature,” Hendrick said.
Finley wants to show he can be more than an explosive runner.
“I’m just trying to make sure I can do it all; be an every-down back,” he said.
Reaching his 2,000-yard goal could present an unusual challenge on a Derby team accustomed to building large leads.
“If we get up big in a game, he’s not going to see very many fourth quarters, because we try to keep our kids healthy,” Hendrick said. “So if he doesn’t get his numbers in the first three quarters or so, he’s not going to get them.”
Sky is the Limit
Despite Finley’s production, Hendrick believes his size and injury history kept him from receiving more attention from major Division I programs.
“Because of his size, I think some schools were wary of making an offer,” Hendrick said. “And he played the bulk of last year injured, so he was not able to show his full abilities, and that may have driven some people away.”
At the same time, Hendrick said smaller programs recognized that Finley had Division I ability, eventually leading to his commitment to South Dakota.
“The sky is the limit for Arieus, and he’s going to be successful as long as he remains healthy,” Hendrick said. “His work ethic and his passion for the game will carry him a long way.”
Hendrick said Finley’s development has extended beyond football.
“Arieus is a good student and very focused on what he wants to do athletically,” he said. “He handles his business, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.”
Finley, who said he “was thrown into the game” of football at age 3, is ready to finally get his senior season started Friday night.
“I just go out there and ball every week,” Finley said. “Whenever I get the rock, I’m trying to take it to the crib.”