Players change positions all the time in sports. Athletic catchers often get moved out from behind home plate in baseball, scoring guards with passing ability can shift over to point guard, and more than one quarterback has been turned into a wide receiver or tight end throughout the years.
 
But when Central Washington offensive lineman Scottland Vise was moved to center this year, it wasn't just any other transition. It added another layer to the story of the most unlikely success story on the Wildcats' roster.
 
In his second season as a full-time starter along the offensive line, Vise's move from guard to center has been seamless. He's been so good, in fact, that he's been the Wildcats' offensive player of the week two weeks in a row.
 
"I'm not sure I can remember an offensive lineman winning that award two weeks in a row since I've been here," CWU head coach Chris Fisk said. "He was one of the best linemen on the field last weekend at Eastern Washington."
 
Hardly recruited out of Tacoma's Franklin Pierce High School, Vise was far from a finished product when he arrived at Central in the fall of 2017.
 
By his own admission, Vise (pronounced Vee-Say) wasn't exactly football savvy when he first set foot on the Ellensburg campus.
 
"I had zero football IQ when I came here," Vise freely admits with a chuckle. "It was crazy. But Coach Fisk really opened my eyes. He explained skill and technique and it was like all of sudden a light bulb went off."
 
A naturally gifted athlete who spent time living in American Samoa during junior high and high school, Vise was late to football and played multiple positions throughout his career.
 
After trying football in the seventh grade in Tacoma – playing tight end in a wing-T offense – Vise returned to American Samoa for what was supposed be a short summer stay. But he ended up remaining on the island much longer, missing the football season in Tacoma in his eighth and ninth grade seasons.
 
By the time he returned to football in 10^th grade, Vise was moved to the offensive and defensive lines.
 
Despite a successful high school career, Vise had no offers to attend college. In fact, he wasn't being recruited at all until members of the CWU coaching staff came calling.
 
"I had no idea that playing football after high school was even possible for me," Vise said. "I was planning on attending a technical school in Arizona to learn to become a diesel mechanic."
 
But he gladly accepted CWU's offer and showed up to campus about as raw as a player could be. Fisk knew he had something, but the coach also knew Vise's development would take time and a lot of hard work.
 
"When he got here, his football IQ and experience as a player was minimal," Fisk said. "He really struggled when he was first here. I don't know if anybody in our program took more butt chewings than Scottland did that first season. But he didn't quit. He stuck with it. And right now, he's one of the most intelligent players we have."
 
Over the years, Vise has become a voracious connoisseur of game film. Prior to his matriculation at Central, he essentially had never watched film.
 
"I didn't know how to watch film when I got here," Vise said. "In high school, I just sat with the team and watched. Coach Fisk taught us HOW to watch film. Now I spend a lot of time preparing for games by watching film. I look at the schemes and formations we're running and what defense the other team lines up in when we go into those formations. I check out their tendencies for blitzing. I spend so much time watching the other team that I barely watch film of myself."
 
But it isn't all football. Vise has a post-football plan. The Law & Justice major plans to enter the police academy, where he hopes to pursue a position with the state patrol.
 
"I feel like the police are going through a tough time right now and I think I can make a difference," he said.
 
He's certainly making a difference in the gridiron in 2021 for the Wildcats.
 
 
Wildcats Open GNAC Play at Simon Fraser
 
Central Washington begins defense of its three consecutive GNAC titles on Saturday when the Wildcats visit Simon Fraser. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., in Burnaby, B.C.
 
The Wildcats (1-1) are looking to bounce back after last weekend's 63-14 loss at FCS No. 7 Eastern Washington. Simon Fraser (0-2) suffered a 56-20 setback at Division II Linfield.
 
Head coach Chris Fisk was asked about his team's performance against the Eagles and how it might impact the conference opener.
 
"The Eastern Washington game really has no bearing on our season," Fisk said. "We're going to be a really good D2 football team and we're excited to play Simon Fraser this weekend and welcome two really tough Texas schools to Ellensburg in the next couple of weeks."
 
As for facing Simon Fraser, a team the Wildcats have defeated 13 straight times, Fisk doesn't believe his squad will take the game for granted.
 
"After last week if anybody around this building is complacent, they need to pack up their locker and head out," he said. "That's the message. We have enough to work on. We've got to get better. We know what's ahead of us with this schedule and the quality of opponents that we're about to face. It's not about Simon Fraser. It's not about Eastern Washington. It's about what we're doing and after last week we've got plenty to fix."
 
Following their game with Simon Fraser, the Wildcats have consecutive home games against teams currently in the AFCA Top 25. CWU hosts No. 17 Angelo State on Sept. 25 and welcomes No. 20 Midwestern State on Oct. 2.