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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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For fans of college football, Feb. 5 is a red-letter
date. It's also and red-and-blue-letter date(as in Ole
Miss) and a blue-and-gold-letter date (as in UTC) as well
as a maroon-and-white-letter date (as in Cumberland).Three Carroll County high school football players cast
their lot to play college football last Wednesday.
Hollow Rock-Bruceton's Patrick Willis faxed his paperwork
to Ole Miss, McKenzie's Rick Mathis made it official with
Tennessee-Chattanooga and Huntingdon's Justin Truett inked
with Cumberland.
The day started with a ceremony for Willis in the Bruceton
superintendent's office. Friends, family and well-wishers
greeted him. Those gathered were treated to cake and soft
drinks.
Willis, who said he was a bit nervous in the morning, said
the event was unbelievable.
"I can't believe I can go to a school like Ole Miss and
play in the SEC," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It's been a blessing."
Willis said he's set some goals for himself while at Ole
Miss.
"I just want to be successful," he said. "I want to be
successful in school with my academics and then on the
football field and basketball court."
Perhaps Willis is entertaining thoughts of being a
two-sport athlete?
"I don't know, maybe," he said with a smile. "If not,
maybe as close to it as I possibly can."
Willis said he mulled over the decision to go to
Mississippi.
"I thought about it and thought about it," Willis said.
"It's different from Tennessee. UT is a good school and
it's big, but Ole Miss is kind of like home."
Willis says he liked the relationship with Ole Miss coach
David Cutcliffe during the recruiting process and that the
Rebels plan on using him at linebacker.
"Though, they might use him in short yardage situations,"
said Bruceton head coach Rod Sturdivant. "He'll primarily
be used as a linebacker."
Sturdivant, who changed the fortunes at Bruceton and made
it a state power, as his numerous state playoff
appearances and state championship trophy would attest,
says that Willis isn't the winner on signing day.
"Ole Miss is the real winner today because they are
getting a gentleman and a great football player," he said.
"It's obvious what he's meant to us. In 22 years I've
never given an MVP award until this year."
The coach said he was pleased with Willis's choice.
"Ole Miss might not be as big and glamorous as Tennessee,
but he hit it off with the coaches well and liked the
community," he said.
Willis, who was a Mr. Football lineman winner and Mr.
Football back finalist, the only time in Tennessee that's
ever happened, might be a candidate for the NFL when he's
done in Oxford.
"I think we could see him on Sunday's" Sturdivant said.
"Ole Miss does, too."
"Patrick is a very versatile athlete. He's big and fast
and one of the biggest and fastest athletes I saw,"
Cutcliffe said. "Patrick is a tremendous young man and
comes from a tremendous program. And he has a great
support group. I think he's going to be a great player for
us."
McKenzie lineman Ricky Mathis had his signing ceremony
later in the morning and was joined by his mother, Denise,
the coaching staff and MHS principal Terry Howell.
The 6-3 offensive lineman said he's glad the process is
over.
"I'm glad I finally picked somewhere to go and to play
football on scholarship," Mathis said of his choice to
join Chattanooga. "This is a dream come true."
Ricky is perhaps the most decorated football player in MHS
history. He was the school's first Mr. Football finalist.
He earned all-state recognition, all-west state and was
the Region 6-2A player of the year. As if that wasn't
enough, he was a team captain and the Rebel MVP. He led a
senior class that won 43 football games in four years, a
school record.
"This is a big deal for our football program," said MHS
coach Wade Comer. "When you get players who move to the
next level, it gives the kids coming up something to look
forward to."
Comer said Mathis had a big impact on the football team.
"He has meant a great deal not only for the football team,
but even in the community," the coach said. "He's set an
example for the kids."
Mathis said he chose Chattanooga because the components
for his success are there.
"I got along with the players and coaches real well and
everything seemed right," he said. "I think I fit in real
well there."
The Moccasins are a run-oriented offense and they only
return 11 offensive linemen and have only one right guard
on the depth chart.
"Chattanooga is an up-and-coming program. Steve Sloan is
the AD now and he's from Alabama, so you know he's going
to take care of football," Comer said. "They play in an
excellent conference, the Southern Conference and he'll
get a chance to play against a lot of good teams."
"We are thrilled to death that he is going to be a part of
our great class of offensive linemen," said UTC coach
Rodney Allison, who begins his tenure with the Mocs. "He
has an opportunity to contribute quickly. We targeted him
early on when we took this job, and we are excited to make
him an integral part of our program."
Wednesday afternoon, Huntingdon quarterback Justin Truett
signed with Herschel Moore's Cumberland squad during a
ceremony in the HHS library. The Huntingdon coaches,
Principal Steve Peery and his parents, Danny and Janice
Truett were present as was Cumberland assistant head coach
Sean Corbitt.
"I've always dreamed of playing college football," said
Truett. "I've waited for this moment and I'm excited. This
is something I always wanted to do."
Truett conducted almost the same offense as does
Cumberland, so he'll have had a sneak peak at the Bulldog
regimen.
"Because they run the same offense, I think I'll fit in
real well," he said. "Coach (Mike Mansfield) said
something to me at the first of the year about them and I
became very interested."
Mustang coach Mike Mansfield said that Truett brought a
lot to the table while quarterbacking Huntingdon.
"He brought leadership, work ethic and it showed with his
execution of the offense," he said. "His work ethic and
commitment rubs off on the other kids."
Mansfield said that Truett has scratched and clawed for
the Mustangs and led them to a Region 6-2A championship.
"We're getting a really good quarter back who runs the
same offense as ours," said Corbitt. "We're getting a good
student athlete. The success he's had here will help us
have success and we're fortunate to get him."
Cumberland, located in Lebanon, Tenn., about 20 minutes
east of Nashville, finished 7-4 last year and won its
first post-season game in school history in the CMH Bowl
in Bolivar, Mo.
"Because he runs the same system, he'll be better off than
most freshman," said Corbitt. "We feel like a scholarship
quarterback will have a chance to step in and compete."
"He's had a long hard road to get where's he's at," said
Mansfield. "I think he'll have a good experience and I
wouldn't doubt it if he is asked to play. He's a
blue-collar guy."
Said Truett: "I just want to go over there and show what I
can do. I'm just glad it's (the signing process) is over."
Willis says he plans on going to the summer session at Ole
Miss while Mathis and Truett will report in late July or
early August to their respective schools.
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