Cy Woods All-Time Roster: Number 22

The countdown continues with 22. With the exception of Nick Hooper, who was given this number as a late-season callup, this number has been worn exclusively by defensive backs at Cy Woods.

Michael Moulton, a cornerback in 2008, was the first Wildcat to wear 22.

Michael Moulton (2nd from left), 2008

The next Wildcat football player who wore 22 was...

Me. I was a cornerback in 2009. Somehow, despite my complete lack of football skills and athleticism, I played all four years. At some point during my sophomore year, I picked up the nickname Road Dogg (and about 15 other variants on this name), like the wrestler who performed in what was then the World Wrestling Federation back in the 1990s and early 2000s. Coach Neill and Coach Zachos were the first to address me by this name, and eventually, the rest of the coaches and most of my teammates followed suit. It got to the point where they never addressed me by my real name, and to this day, they still don't. (On very rare occasions, the coaches will address me as Dustin.) A few other teammates called me D-Train, like Dontrelle Willis, the former Marlins/Tigers pitcher. I was on the field for five plays for my entire high school football career and somehow managed to earn two nicknames.

The only time I ever played in a varsity football game was against Stratford, deep into garbage time. I tore my ACL before (yes, really... before) the Cy-Fair game. This is an injury that Coach Whitmore gives me grief for, even after all these years. It's probably worse than Chad O'Donnell's concussion against Cy Falls, because at least he got hurt during the game. I, on the other hand, got hurt before a game.

Now you know my story as a Cy Woods football player.

Dustin Nguyen, 2009

After I left, Zach Allender was the next Wildcat to wear 22. He was a cornerback and served as a team captain in 2010. Zach also carried out the 212 flag before each game and after every halftime.

Zach Allender, 2010

Nicholas Hooper was assigned #22 when he was called up in 2011, his freshman year. You may know him better as a quarterback.

Nick Hooper, 2011-14; wore #9 beginning in 2012

Sam Dobbs initially wore 29 when he was called up in 2012, his junior year, and switched to 22 for the last game of that season. He then wore 22 full-time as a senior in 2013, and he was a starting cornerback for part of that season.

Sam Dobbs, 2012-13

Robert Barrientez, a cornerback, wore 22 in 2014. His younger brother, Jack, played as a running back and a wide receiver from 2015-17.

Robert Barrientez, 2014

Kason Franklin, a starting safety, switched to 22 in 2015 after wearing #34 as a sophomore. His father, Ken, was a kicker and a punter at Arkansas. Kason currently plays at Texas A&M—Kingsville.

Ryan Gilcrease was a starting cat-backer in 2017. Ryan also pole vaulted for the Wildcats and his older sister, Madison, was a distance runner at Cy Woods.

Ryan Gilcrease, 2017

Matisse Polanco, an A-back, wore 22 in 2018.

Photo by Tom Dendy

Matisse Polanco, 2018

Gabriel Gates was a defensive back in 2019.

Photo courtesy: Phlox Photography

Gabriel Gates, 2019