Team first.

Many players will say it. Fernando DeLeon has lived it this season for West Aurora.

When two linemen moved out of the district following last season, it raised some concerns for members of the coaching staff looking ahead to 2023. Offensive line coach Kyle Phelps, in particular, thought his group might be in trouble, having lost much of its depth.

And that’s when Phelps’ thoughts turned to the 6-foot-1 DeLeon, a two-year starter at defensive end for the Blackhawks who would be returning for his senior season.

“Fernando is athletic and long,” Phelps said. “I just thought we had more depth at D-line than we had at O-line at the time, and Fernando was athletically in a spot where he could help us there.”

What did DeLeon, who had played at 195 to 200 pounds and experienced some success on defense, think of the change?

“At first, I was shocked, of course,” DeLeon said. “I thought, ‘Dang, I’ve started since sophomore year on the D-line and he wants me to change my last year.’ But I do what the team needs.

“I learned the position all summer. I got used to it, and I definitely like it. I like blocking big players, especially pancaking them. Coach Phelps does a great job, and the O-line is great.”

DeLeon was one of several players for West Aurora who worked on both sides of the line during the summer.

“We had a longer period of time to evaluate kids and figure out who was going to play where,” Phelps said. “Also, when we get in a situation like Week 2 and we have three defensive linemen go down, Fernando knows the calls well enough to go in there and play.

“He’s also intelligent, has like a 5.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). I can’t say enough good things about the kid. He’s athletic for a big guy, very smart, and he understands the game.”

While settling in at right tackle, DeLeon has seen some spot duty on defense for West Aurora (5-4), which has rebounded from a 1-8 season to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Malcolm Smith, a senior who starts at right guard next to DeLeon and also starts at tackle on defense, has been impressed.

“We have a family, and ‘Nando is a big impact on it,” Smith said. “I feel like he made the O-line. A lot of us go out to eat together every Thursday, and that family carries over to the team.

“Just picking up the offensive plays was the biggest thing he had to do. I feel like offense is more critical thinking than defense, which is more reaction. I prefer defense.”

DeLeon said he also had time to prepare for the switch.

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“I went from trying to sack the quarterback to protecting mine,” DeLeon said. “At the same time, it’s just big on big. It’s just physical, aggressive and being emotionally attached to the game. It’s just football.

“I spent the offseason trying to get bigger and added 20-25 pounds, which I would have done for just defense, too. Far varsity football, it’s a big deal. I’m playing at 225.”

The Blackhawks travel to the St. Louis suburb of Edwardsville for a 2 p.m. game Saturday in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs against the Tigers (8-1).

Edwardsville’s defense features highly touted 6-4, 255-pound junior defensive end Iose Epenesa, the younger brother of Buffalo Bills defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa.

“We’re gonna focus on 88,” Smith said of Epenesa, who has caught the eye of Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Illinois and Iowa. “He has some big offers.”

DeLeon said West Aurora is locked in.

“The Southwest Prairie has prepared us for teams like this,” he said.