Central Washington University has one of the best defenses in the Lone Star Conference (LSC), boasting the second lowest points allowed with 121 points through nine games, in part due to senior defensive back Tanner Volk. The 6’1, 189 lbs safety has been a monster since joining the team in 2021. Putting in the work through his tenure at CWU, Volk has turned into an outstanding player and leader for the team, getting better every year.
Starting in 2021, Volk has been himself both mentally and physically through the years. “He’s certainly gotten bigger and stronger,” Chris Fisk, CWU head coach, said. “As anything in life, with age comes wisdom, and his football IQ has just gone off the charts since his freshman year.”
Fisk then went on to state that Volk had gone through a number of changes, specifying Volk’s confidence level as one and getting bigger and stronger. Between Volk’s junior and senior year, he went from 175 lbs to 189 lbs.
Senior running back Tyler Flanagan thought back to the differences between freshman year Volk and senior year Volk. “When he first got here, he wasn’t as big as he is now,” Flanagan said. “So he’s definitely got a lot bigger, stronger and faster.
The running back also praised the defensive captain’s development, recalling their time together in physical rehab.
“Me and him were in the training room doing our rehab together, and that dude came back better than before,” Flanagan said. “The kid just works his tail off every day.” Flanagan also emphasized Volk’s on the field abilities, calling him a “real physical tackler,” “fast from sideline to sideline,” and that opposing offenses have to know where he is at all times or pay the price.
Coach Fisk expressed Volk’s qualities off the field as a leader and heartbeat of the team. “He’s certainly the pulse of the team emotionally,” Fisk said. “I think he does a great job verbally with the team. The kids look up to him and have a lot of respect for not only the work ethic that he has to prepare for games, to prepare his body in the offseason, get himself ready to play football, but I think they have a tremendous amount of respect for the person he is.”
The coach for the CWU football team pointed out his defensive back’s ability to make relationships with not only the entire team, but the coaching staff, training staff and administration too.
Volk may be a dangerous weapon on the defense but he’s also a big pillar for the offense. “He gives [the offense] a lot of momentum, because he makes spectacular plays,” Flanagan said. “Sometimes when games are dead offensively, he gets an interception and flips the momentum for us. I would definitely say he sparks us a lot.” Flanagan referenced homecoming weekend where Volk had three interceptions, each one setting the offense up in great field position. Those three interceptions tied a CWU record for interceptions in a single game.
The improvements and leadership qualities Volk made through the years shows in his game day tape and stats. In his first year with the Wildcats, Volk finished fourth in total tackles and second in interceptions for the team.
During Volk’s sophomore season, the star safety showed his improvement, finishing third in tackles on the football team with 69 and second in interceptions, solo tackles, pass breakups and fumble recoveries. He also earned First Team Defense All-LSC in 2022.
Last year, Volk blew up on the scene tying CWU’s record for most interceptions in a season with 13. The star safety also finished the 2023 season with 124 total tackles, which is third in CWU single season history. Volk capped off his Junior year leading the team in five different stats- solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, pass break ups and interceptions.
As a senior, Volk currently stands third in the LSC this season for interceptions with four and 15th in total tackles with 50.
Last year, Volk won a plethora of awards for his outstanding play, such as LSC Defensive Player of the Year, the Don Hansen National Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-LSC. Volk is also the first ever Wildcat to win the Cliff Harris Award. This year, Volk has already earned himself LSC Defensive Player of the Week for his three interception performance during the CWU homecoming game.
Volk and the Wildcats are currently third in the LSC with six wins and three losses after a heartbreaking loss on Nov. 2 to Angelo State University, losing by one on a missed extra point with 34 seconds left in the game. The Wildcats return home for their last two games of the season against Sul Ross State University on Nov. 9 and Western Oregon University on Nov. 16, the latter half CWU has beaten in ten of their last 12 matchups. Both Flanagan and Coach Fisk have expressed hope for massive crowds for these crucial final two games.
