Liberty junior running back Fitzgerald Toussaint can shake tacklers — and tailfeathers.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
UNIOR FITZGERALD TOUSSAINT was walking toward the Liberty High football locker room after practice when his coach, Jeff Whittaker, overheard him talking about dancing.
“Oh, are you going to dance?” Whittaker asked?
“Yeah,” Toussaint said.
“You want me to rap for you?” Whittaker said.
Toussaint smiled, then shook his head.
A few minutes later, after changing into a T-shirt, jeans and a red ball cap, Toussaint walked into the gymnasium, stood off to the side with classmate Jamon Wagner, put in a CD with Yung Joc’s “It’s Going Down” and started krumping.
What’s that? You’re not familiar with krumping?
How about “Pop Locking”? No?
Well, they’re forms of street dancing filled with quick, explosive movements and a lot of athletic moves. (If you go to youtube.com and type in “krumping,” you’ll see some examples.)
Unless you’ve got some natural talent, you probably can’t do it. Wagner, for instance, did a full split. Toussaint did a backflip off a box. The two have been dancing together since the seventh grade and they’ve even won contests at some local clubs.
“They’re legit,” said Whittaker. “Those guys can dance.”
Tough to tackle
Of course, Toussaint saves his best moves for the football field, where he terrorized Salem’s defense last week to the tune of 261 yards on 12 carries (nearly 22 yards per carry) and five touchdowns en route to a 42-13 victory.
“I wasn’t planning on that,” said Toussaint (5-foot-9, 180 pounds). “I’m really working hard this year on not focusing on individual accomplishments.
“I got in a mindset about that last year and I’m not going to worry about it this year. This year it’s all about the team.”
Toussaint, who used the last name Edwards last year, ran for 1,100 yards last season, averaging 12 yards per carry while splitting carries with Jonathan Wells, who is now playing for Miami (Ohio).
As one of seven returning starters from last year’s playoff team, Toussaint knew he needed to set an example for the younger players this year.
“I can step up and teach the young guys what to do,” said Toussaint. “And when they see I’m working hard, I think it’s going to push them to work hard.”
Track standout
Toussaint’s work ethic doesn’t end with football. He won a regional title in the 100-meter dash in the spring and finished sixth in the event at the state track meet. He also helped the Leopards finish second in the state in the 4x100 relay.
“Fitz is probably the fastest guy we’ve had here,” said Whittaker. “The only guy close is Lew Daniels.”
Daniels, a 1998 Liberty grad, won state titles in the 100 and 200 his senior year before playing football at West Virginia.
“If they went head to head in high school, Fitz would probably win,” said Whittaker. “He’s [Toussaint] not just a speed back either. He’s got good hips and good change of direction.
“And he runs hard. He can put his head down and get an extra yard.”
Toussaint splits time with talented backs Julius Ferrell and Ira Cross, meaning opponents can’t just key on him. But as the Salem coaches will tell you, he’s the guy you need to stop.
After all, he’s got some pretty good moves.
And not just on the field.
scalzo@vindy.com
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