Throughout his varsity debut with Fort Bend Austin, sophomore Koen Herrmann has proven his worth as the team’s starting signal-caller.
While he might be an underclassman, he hasn’t shied away from the accountability that comes with the territory.
“Being the younger one, trying to lead juniors and seniors has been a big responsibility,” said Herrmann. “I’m always watching film, trying to find ways to improve. I’ve been watching the guys ahead of me and seeing how they lead by example. I’m just looking to follow in their footsteps and keep the program moving forward.”
Given that his father, Trey Herrmann, is the head coach for the Bulldogs, Koen has likely been preparing for this role for most of his adolescence.
“My Dad coached me growing up and it’s been nice to continue that,” he said. “Going into high school, you have the good moments where the team’s winning, and those hard losses like we had against Travis. But, he’s always there helping me understand what I need to fix and building me up. It’s great to consistently have someone to talk to about the game.”
It’s not hard to see how that has paid off.
“I think my greatest asset is probably my football IQ,” Herrmann said. “With my Dad as a head coach, I’ve always been around football, just knowing the game on a deeper level. I like to watch guys like Caleb Williams, Shedeur Sanders and C.J. Stroud.
“With my frame, I’m a smaller type of quarterback, so I also try to model my game after Bryce Young. I’ve got the same build as him, which is nice to see that there’s no one type of QB style that’s necessary to succeed.”
Austin is currently ranked fifth in a packed district with a record of 4-3 (3-2 in district), and are on the cusp of reaching the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.
So, what will it take for Herrmann and company to get it done?
“We’ve got a tough stretch to end the year,” he said. “At this time, we have to be nearly perfect. We’ve got to maintain focus and can’t give up early. Everyone just needs to do their job, play by play, and good things will come.”