Gov. Mifflin’s Tyler Minick is a hit in football, too
Tyler Minick’s hits don’t all come on the baseball diamond.
The Gov. Mifflin shortstop and University of Connecticut recruit can make plays on the football field, too. He showed that last week when he took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, then recovered an onside kick, in a 54-21 win at Exeter.
He’s part of what might be a historic secondary; with Nick Singleton, Ayden Martin, Eden Johnson and Minick the Mustangs feature four athletes who have drawn Division I scholarship offers.
Is there another team in Pennsylvania that can say that?
“It’s crazy to be a part of,” said Minick, a junior who committed to play baseball for the Huskies in August. “I’m not D1 for football, but still, being a D1 athlete it’s great having that level of (athletes) back there.”
Singleton, a senior cornerback, will play running back at Penn State. Martin, a junior safety, has a football offer from Temple and has made recent weekend visits to Penn State and Army. Johnson, a senior safety, was offered by William and Mary.
It’s rare for even a top high school team such as Mifflin — which ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A — to have more than a couple Division I-caliber athletes on the roster. To have four dropping into coverage together? Unprecedented, at least in Berks football.
“With Eden, Ayden, Lamaj (Northan, who also plays corner), Nicky… I mean I don’t think there’s a team that can really throw on us,” said Minick. “It’s great being back there.”
Minick has played football and basketball since he was old enough to carry or dribble a ball, but baseball’s always been his No. 1. He’s a slick-fielding infielder who played shortstop for the Mustangs when ace Connor Maryniak was on the mound, or slid over to second base when Maryniak played the field, during a championship 2021 season.
The Mustangs went 21-7, beat Wilson in the Berks championship game, then knocked off top-seeded Manheim Township in the District 3 Class 6A Tournament. Minick had a three-run double in that 5-4 win over Wilson at FirstEnergy Stadium.
He was named to the All-Berks team after batting .376 with 28 runs scored, 21 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. As a pitcher he went 2-1 with an 0.98 ERA.
He was selected to play for Pennsylvania in the Big 26 Classic against Maryland in July at FNB Field in Harrisburg (where the Eastern League’s Senators play).
He excelled during summer showcases and caught the eye of Huskies coach Jim Penders on the UConn campus in June. A few weeks later Penders offered a scholarship; the 6-foot, 165 junior accepted in August.
“Since the beginning, baseball’s always what I’ve been best at,” said Minick. “My dad (Tom) played in college (at Alvernia, where he also coached). Without his guidance I probably wouldn’t be a baseball player.”
Minick left football after seventh grade in order to concentrate on baseball. He returned as a freshman after Mustangs coach Jeff Lang urged him to return.
“He came out and said you’re gonna be a big part of this team,” Minick said. “His interest, and his strong will, is the reason I came back out.”
Minick said he has the blessing of both his baseball coaches, Chris Hole at Mifflin and Penders, to play football; each believe in multiple-sport athletes and staying involved with sports year-round.
Injuries are always a concern in a collision sport such as football. With an opportunity to play baseball in college, why take the risk?
“That’s the biggest (concern) I have,” Minick said, “but I figure if I play my hardest and the way our coaches teach us I think I should be injury free.”
He’s glad he decided to return to football. He’s been a starter at cornerback and key special teams player on a team that’s 6-0 and favored to repeat as champions in Section 1 of the Berks Football League and District 3.
Minick intercepted a pass in the season-opening 55-6 win at York. Until that kickoff bounced in his direction last week at Exeter he hadn’t touched the ball in a game. He showed off his speed and skills, collecting it at the 25, dashing through an opening at midfield, then taking off toward the end zone for a 6-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.
“It was actually the first ball I got all year, so it was fun,” he said. “Following my front-line blocks like that it was easy to find a hole. Getting the ball and being able to do that for my team is an amazing feeling.”
With Singleton back deep on kickoffs, and Martin and Minick on the second line, opponents don’t have many good options on kickoffs. Most try to keep it away from Singleton by squibbing it. This one took a long hop right to Minick.
“When I hit the lane I saw the only person back there was the kicker, I was like, ‘I’m gonna out-run him,’ ” Minick said. “It was great to help my team out like that. It was my first varsity touchdown, so it was great. I don’t get the ball that much.”
