Looking to create a Super Bowl atmosphere for National
Signing Day, Northside High administrators had half of the power on campus cut
off … not really.
There was a power outage in this portion of Warner Robins
Wednesday morning, but lights were on in the school gymnasium, and four of the
Eagle football players used the occasion to celebrate both their careers as
Eagles and what the future holds at Georgia Southern University and Georgia State
University.
Taylor Lay became the third Warner Robins American Little
League World Series champion to sign a college scholarship … wait a minute,
that’s the wrong kind of helmet on the table, and that’s too big to be a
baseball …
Yes, Lay, the son of the 2007 World Series winning manager
Mickey Lay, paved a different route to college sports than teammates Clint Wynn
and Dalton Carriker. He became a two-year starting offensive tackle for the
Eagles, an all-region player, and recipient of an offer from Georgia Southern.
“It all started in the ninth grade,” said Taylor. “I was
going to come to Northside and just play baseball. Coach (Kevin) Kinsler (then
the head baseball coach) talked to me and my dad and said I needed to get in
the weight program and get stronger. By the time the summer was over and
(football) season rolled around, I stuck with it.
“I’ve played football in middle school, rec and stuff like
that. When I quit baseball in the 10th grade, I missed it, but at
the same time I know I did the right thing.”
The Northside and Georgia Southern coaching staffs would not
argue that. Neither would anyone in his family.
“When I told (my dad about quitting baseball), he said it
was up to me,” said Taylor. “He said I was a man and needed to make my own choices.
Everyone was fully supportive, and I’m glad to have them as my family.”
Lay said Georgia Southern runs a similar offense, and the
coaches in Statesboro are “great guys” with whom he’s already established
strong personal bonds.
“(Northside) is the best program anywhere, I believe,” he
said. “Coaches, players, fans, everything. These guys are like my brothers. I’m
fortunate I’ll have one (Keshun Hill) coming with me.
“They taught me how to be a good man. That’s what I learned
the most. (In football) I just have to keep working harder.”
In school, Taylor wants to study either business or sports
medicine.
Yes, Hill, Mr. Everything when it came to toting the
football at Northside, will also get to do his thing in that multiple option
Georgia Southern offense under head coach Jeff Monken.
Playing both receiver and running back, Hill had 1,223 yards
on the ground and 17 touchdowns as a senior. He caught 32 passes for 409 yards
and eight scores. In addition, Hill scored four times as a kick returner.
All of this earned him region and state offensive player of
the year honors.
“It’s going to be the same as it was here,” said Hill, who
described his role as a ‘B’ back. “I’ll just try to transfer what I did here on
to Georgia Southern. It’s a back who goes in motion all the time and on a sweep
gets it and on a dive gets it and runs routes.
“When I went (to Statesboro) on a visit, it was a
brotherhood. All the players came up to me. It felt like family. I wanted to go
somewhere I could be comfortable and still be close to home.
“(At Northside) I just tried to be remembered as much as I
can. I did not try to be like a single person to be looked at. I tried to be a
team player, leader. I’m pretty sure that’s what I’ve left here.
“I’ve grown a lot. Before this season, I would just be on
the field and go run. This year, I tried to look at the defense and figure out
what they were doing and make my routes better. (The coaches) taught me every
day about how school comes first, then we go on the field. They taught me
before practice and after practice.”
Hill plans on studying nutrition and sports medicine in
college. He does have aspirations for the National Football League, but if that
doesn’t work he wants to go into athletic training.
While his last two Northside teams could not reach the state
championship game, Hill does see a national title run for his new Eagle
teammates in the future.
GEORGIA STATE
In just a few short years, Georgia State Panther football is
entering new territory with a new head coach and a new conference affiliation.
Northside receiver Robert Davis and linebacker Trey Payne are looking forward
greatly to be a part of these transitions.
Trent Miles took over for the retiring Bill Curry at the end
of the 2012 season, and this fall Georgia State joins the Sun Belt Conference
and the Bowl Subdivison.
“Georgia State has a great coaching staff, and I like the
fact that they want better men, not just better players,” said Davis, who had
as many team accolades for his blocking ability (six Big Hit awards) as his
receiving skills. “I love the student life and everything about it.
“I plan on playing X receiver, which is one who goes deep a
lot. I plan to block a lot.
“I feel I’ve grown a lot as a man (at Northside). They
taught me about real-life situations and playing football. I’ve gotten bigger
and stronger since I came here. I was a real small guy.”
Davis doesn’t know the exact measurements then, but today
it’s 6-3 and 190 pounds.
“They pushed me in the weight room and out on the field,” he
said. “It took me a while to buy into the program, but they made sure that I
did. They made me successful.”
Davis cherishes relationships with the likes of Payne,
fellow receiver Brian Dyson and a defensive back, Christian Agee. He said he
and Agee made each other better with their practice battles.
“They want us to do everything right,” said Davis. “So if
you do mess up, you get back up, try again and make sure you get it right the
next time.”
He will look to bring that same attitude to Georgia State.
He also knows there are other aspects of football he needs to learn, like in
defensive coverages and getting off jams. Davis wants to go into the physical
therapy field and obtain a master’s degree.
“It depends on how hard we work,” said Davis about the
growth potential at Georgia State. “We have to do work in the weight room and
on the field. We should be O.K.
“I never had a chance to talk to coach Curry. I heard about
him as a Georgia Tech man. (Coach Miles) made a really good impression, a nice
man, a people person who cares about the players and them getting a quality
education.”
Payne brought a lot of pain in that position Northside
always seems to grow prospects: middle linebacker.
“It’s a great privilege,” he said. “I grew up watching three
great linebackers in front of me, and to step in as a sophomore ready to play,
it meant a whole lot to me. It’s a lot of responsibility.
“I learned to play hard for four quarters. I learned you
have to be a different type of animal on the field than you are off the field.
It’s a very demanding position, but if you get the job done, it’s a rewarding
position.
“As demanding as it is on your body, it makes you mentally
tough and physically tough. It helps you in life, because things aren’t always
going to go your way.”
Things often did go in the way of the Northside defense with
Payne anchoring the middle. Last season he had 96 team-leading tackles, nine of
which were for lost yards. He intercepted two passes and recovered four
fumbles, including a memorable one in the state playoffs where he scored
against Thomas County-Central.
“The success comes from the work done off the field,” said
Payne. “Northside plays football from January to December. It’s all year round
here. The players buy out and sell out mind and body, sweat and tears. It pays
off on Friday nights.
“They are demanding coaches. They mean the world to me. Four
years ago as a freshman, I wasn’t the person I am now. Each one had a different
impact on my life.”
Payne said he sees a similar commitment in the Georgia State
staff, and he expects it will have the same types of demands from him.
“The recruiting process was crazy,” said Payne, who also had
interest from Western Kentucky. “I chose Georgia State because it’s the best
fit for me.”
That’s not just because of football. Payne wants to be a
financial business major, somebody who handles other people’s assets.
“If you don’t put in the work, you don’t get anything out of
it,” said Payne about his transition to the college game. “From now to July,
it’s putting in work in the weight room, running and getting my mind and body
ready to play at a whole new level.
“The players recruited this year and last year are going to
set the trend for Georgia State, start a whole new legacy. I see a bright
future in the Sun Belt. We have some good athletes coming in. Me and Robert are
going to put the same work we did at Northside for four years and make an
impact.
“Coach Miles is a great head coach. When he was at Indiana
State, he turned that program around, and he will do the same at Georgia
State.”
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