FRUITPORT – Offensive and defensive linemen spend the bulk of their football careers largely out of the limelight.

The headlines and glory go to the guys who make the flashy plays and score the points.

That’s never really bothered Fruitport’s Ricky Wiggins, a 5-foot-8, 235-pound beast of a football player.

Through three years of varsity football, he’s been a dominant lineman who thrives on the hard-nosed duties involved with playing up front.

“I’m just used to getting nasty in the trenches,” Wiggins said. “I’ve always been drawn to this game for the physicality.”

But now his role is suddenly changing as he starts his senior season. Wiggins has been tapped to join the Trojans’ offensive backfield as an Hback/fullback, starting on Thursday night when Fruitport opens its season at home against Kenowa Hills.

That will sometimes mean just more blocking, because fullbacks are typically the last line of protection on a pass or run play. But Wiggins will run the ball, too.

That means there’s a very good chance he will score his first varsity touchdown sometime this season, and he admits he likes that idea.

Just don’t expect any fancy dances or showmanship when he finally crosses the goal line with the ball.

“I will probably just hand it to the ref and go celebrate with my teammates,” Wiggins said with a shrug.

Wiggins has been an important part of the Trojan attack since his freshman year, when he won a spot as a starting offensive lineman.

He became a two-way starter as a sophomore, adding defensive tackle to his resume, and has been a star in both of his roles.

As a junior he was All-Conference, All-Area and All-Region for his play on defense, but he could have gotten the same recognition for his offensive work, according to Fruitport head coach Nate Smith.

“He’s a competitor,” said Smith. “He’s very driven. He’s driven in the weight room, driven in drills, driven in the classroom. He squats almost 600 pounds and benches over 370. He is a weight room rat.

“He wants to be the best he can be. That’s part of why he’s such a beast.”

Smith said Wiggins will make a good running back because he’s a hard-nosed power runner who will be very tough to tackle.

As the coach put it in an interview a few weeks ago, “He’s strong as an ox” and he “runs in a straight line like a bowling ball.”

“Being able to put him at the point of attack, either with the ball or leading for somebody, will be really beneficial to what we are trying to do,” Smith said. “He’s going to be a very physical runner, but I would not underestimate his ability to make a cut. He’s much more shifty than his 235-pound body would indicate.”

Wiggins won’t be the featured running back. That job belongs to teammate Kayden Beardsley. But he will get his share of touches, according to Smith.

How often? The coach wouldn’t say, particularly on the day before the first game of the season.

“He will get as many carries as the game dictates,” Smith said with a grin.

Wiggins, who will also retain his defensive tackle duties, said he’s excited about the opportunity to play in the offensive backfield.

“I have always wanted to try it, but I never had the chance,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of stuff with the skill guys in the offseason, making sure I know what to do.”

He admits he’s a little nervous, because running backs have a lot of eyes on them when they have the ball – or if they happen to lose it.

“It’s a lot of weight on my shoulders,” he said. “I have never had that much attention on me before. Playing on the line you don’t see us as much. If I fumble, it won’t be too good, but I feel like I will be all right.”