Zed Woerner doesn’t want attention.

The 6-foot-2 senior is one of the most prolific passers in Tarleton State’s history. He owns the single-game school records for completions and passing yards and the career record for touchdown passes — and if he throws for 213 yards or more against Central Oklahoma in the Corsicana Bowl in Corsicana, Texas, on Saturday, Woerner will add the career record for passing yards, as well.

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For all his accomplishments, he deflects praise like it'll sting if it touches him and he has no desire to partake in some sort of tell-all memoir about his journey to this, his last week as the quarterback of the Texans.

“The less they know about me the better,” he says in a thick Texas drawl so genuine and authentic that his indifference still feels endearing. “I keep my mouth shut and just let others do all of that talking.”

Woerner led Tarleton State to a 4-1 start before a few bumps in the road dropped the Texans to a 6-5 mark to finish the regular season. He completed 60 percent of his throws this year for 2,213 yards and 20 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.

Ending things with a win would be great and that’s exactly how I plan on doing it.

The Marble Falls, Texas, native threw for 337 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 21 and completed 7 of 9 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout victory over Oklahoma Panhandle on Sept 9. But perhaps his best performance of the season came in a 45-42 overtime loss to fourth-ranked Midwestern State on Nov. 4.

Woerner went toe-to-toe with Harlan Hill Award finalist Layton Rabb and threw for a season-high 378 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards on 13 carries. Trading blows with Rabb, Woerner led the Texans back from a 14-point deficit over the final nine minutes of the game to force overtime. 

Tarleton State would fall by a field goal that day, but Woerner’s heroics served as a reminder: He’s one of the best quarterbacks in program history.

Just don’t try to tell him that.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be in the ‘best’ category,” he says. “There have been a lot of great quarterbacks come through here before me and there will be a lot behind me. I’m highly honored just to be part of the group.”

Woerner goes on to attribute credit to everyone from wide receivers to play-callers to his offensive line — because of course he does.

“It’s cool when it all comes together, don’t get me wrong,” he says. “But everything I’ve been able to do here has been made possible by the guys around me.”

Woerner’s not wrong, but he will conveniently forget to mention the role that his own hard work and determination played in his team's success if you’ll let him.

The Record Breaking TD! Congrats Tarleton QB Zed Woerner on passing Scott Grantham for school record in passing TDs with 58 #LSCfb pic.twitter.com/RH7q6xf6Et

— Tarleton Athletics (@TarletonSports) October 1, 2017

He’s a coach’s son. He’s a coach’s grandson. And he was largely ignored as a college prospect coming out of Marble Falls High School. All of these are relevant variables when explaining the way Woerner works off the field and plays the game.

“I grew up in a locker room, watching people work,” he says. “You go to work at 5 AM, you’re lifting at 6, going to school, going to practice — and then going to a game somewhere after that. It’s more of a habit than anything.

“Anyone that competes at this level understands that. They may not come in understanding that, but they learn quickly — or they’re not here very long.”

Woerner is leaving a legacy at Tarleton State, even if he hadn't yet considered that when asked out it.

“I just want to be known as a good guy that took care of those around him… protected his own and did it the right way,” he says.

For the understated Woerner, that’s not asking too much. And while he will go down as one of the best — both players and people — to come through the Texans’ program, he does have one game left to add to his on-field accomplishments.

“It’s a very important game,” he says. “Ending things with a win would be great, and that’s exactly how I plan on doing it. You can’t be scared. You can’t shy away.”

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