Thanks everyone, a lot of good critiques try to answer or explain or just go over what was said.
1. Yeah, originally started out going for the helmet shot, and then pads. I thought to crop around the numbers. but then for me it could have been anyone on the team so wanted to keep the numbers in. then looking at it I wanted to get the name of the school in there. If we were in his town I might have just been able to go to his school but being in opposing teams area I didn't want to have him on someone else's field I guess. I started out wanting to do all black background behind him but it wasn't working out how I wanted. mix that in with having troubles with my recievers for my flash giving me issues I was stuck with one flash for the day (one thing I desperately need to upgrade)
2. I see what your saying about #2 I was sitting on the ground getting wet on the damp grass, maybe I should have scooted back some and laid down all the way. One of the disadvantages to being 6-4 is half the time I wind up shooting from my knees to avoid the looking down view all the time. I'll find some time to practice this more from a lower point.
3. for this one I maybe could have gone with the original shot of him leaning in a bit more and getting his head out of the light from the other side of the covered bridge, It was just reminding me too much of the same shot I did with his sister a few months before so wanted to go with a bit different shot. I cropped it down a bit at the beginning but then you lost the top of the bridge and I liked it a little better with the bright opening at least being framed in the photo versus having it be blown out all the way up.
I see your point Lew about the height, just with him being the football player I was trying to go from that lower angle. make him appear maybe a bit taller and imposing, well that was the intent.
If I remember right both #1 and #2 were shot with the light about 45 deg or so to camera right, used a single AB400 no diffusion. just the metal beauty ring or whatever you call it.
Thanks everyone so far for your remarks.