by Ashton Eley.
Seniors Marshall Everett, Karon Dismuke and Dillon Winfrey signed with three different colleges for full scholarships to play football, Feb 3
“Through the accomplishments and the leadership they have displayed in their years here, these three individuals helped us to when our second consecutive 7A Central conference championship,” Principal Jay Pickering said.
The first to sign was Marshall Everett, who signed with University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Everett has only played for the school one year, but was voted team captain by his peers and was called a leader on defense by coach Paul Calley.
Everett will play as top line baker for UAM and will study sports medicine.
“They’ve been with me since day one,” Everett said, “since I want there in the summer.”
Karon Dismuke, who has been playing football since he was 5, signed with Southern Arkansas University.
“Karon was paid the ultimate compliment by Southern Arkansas coach Bill Keopple,” Calley said. “He said he watched film on running backs from four different states, and the best running back that he say on film was Karon.”
The last to sign was Dillion Winfrey, who brought tears to everyone’s eyes as he spoke of his journey up to the point he signed with University of Central Arkansas.
“Thank you Jesus. I want to give honor to God. I lot of people say that first, but coming into ninth grade I was 5 even and weighed 130 pounds and my high school coach [at Mills] looked at me and started laughing,” Winfrey said, “This time last year, man I was where you are now, looking up and wanting to be up here . . .So many people said I would not make it. Today I’m here, 5’7”, 160 pounds.
Winfrey went on to say he became discouraged when college coaches repeated told him he was too short and didn’t weigh enough, but they didn’t stop him from training hard and praying to God for help.
“I told God, if he gave me this scholarship and get my college paid for, I’d be on my Tebow status,” Winfrey said. “You know, I’d be all about making him look good.”
Winfrey will play his freshman year at UCA on punt and kickoff return.
“Once they see him play,” Calley said. “He’ll probably be playing on both sides of the ball just like he did for us.”
Calley said he was proud of all three of his players and hopes his other players will learn from their example.
“I hope your younger guys learn from them, their work ethic, their character, everything they stand for,” Calley said. “That is why they are here today.”
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