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Quartet: Plans to remain closecontinued from page IBschool careers. Coppedge, who inked a LOI from NCAA Division n Football Championship Subdivision Ekn University; leaves as Southern Nash’s all-time leading rusher with 4,157 yards. Huffman, who will continue his career with his good friend Boswell at Div. IIUNC Pembroke, ranks second with more than 3,800 rushing yards.Hunter, like Coppedge and Huffman, is a three-year varsity starter at safety and was chosenas 3-A Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. All four players were part of Southern Nash’s run to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A East Regional final in 2009.In three seasons, they helpedthe Firebirds to a 26-12 recordand three state playoff appearances, So, it’s easy to see why all four want their collegiate experience to be similar to their high school careers.“When I went there for my visit, I stayed the night with other running backs and we hung out and met people,” Huffmansaid of his recruiting visit to UNCR “I just felt comfortablethere and with the coaches. They kind of reminded me of the coaches here.”The lessons preached bySouthern Nash head coach Brian Foster and his staff foundtheir mark.“It’s not just about football here, it’s about life in general,” Coppedge said. “We’ve becomebetter people on the field and off the field. As soon as we stepped foot in here, he was telling us how to be role models. ... From eighth grade, hewas telling us how to be role models.”Foster downplayed his effort but his joy at seeing his playersrealize a dream was palpable.“If they bust their tails for me, I’m sure going to bust my tail for them,” Foster said. “So if that means picking up the phone and hearing a hundred ‘Nos’ to hear one ‘Yes,’ that’s what we’re going to do.... I don’t ever want to make our kids feel that we’re just here towin a football game.”A BORN WOLFPACKERSessoms, who gleefully noted State has always been his favorite team, received scholarship offers from East Carolina andVirginia Tech, where his cousin and former Firebird Kwamaine Battle just finished his career last fall. Sessoms committed to the Atlantic Coast ConferenceWblfpack when he was offered a scholarship by NCSU head coach Tom O’Brien during a summer camp prior to his junior ytanSessoms, a basketball standout for four seasons at Southern Nash, allowed that he may have to redshirt his freshman season but the prospect of learning from the likes of All-Americacomerback David Amerson aswell as returning starters Errol Wolff, Brandan Bishop and C J. Wilson is enticing.“To learn from those guys who have the experience,” Sessoms said. “I just want to learn from them so I can step in the next year if I get redshirted.Besides the standard tasks of getting bigger, faster and stronger that applies to all incoming freshman football players, Sessoms said he will pay particular attention to his pass defense — an aspect that wasn’t often utilized against run-happy high school offenses.“Ws’re going to work on that in the offseason,” he assured.The son of Garland and Carolyn Sessoms of Wilson, Sessoms said he is entertaining the idea of a sports management major.N0SMAL1FEATCoppedge, at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, said his first step towards landing a college scholarship offer came courtesy of afreshman-year challenge fromFoster.“Ever since day 1 when I got here, I was told by Coach Foster that I was too small,” Coppedge said with a grin. “From that day on, I put 100 percent in the weight room, the class room, practice field, games. By theend of my freshman year, I wasstarting on varsity.”Coppedge said he knew Foster was just trying to motivate him.“I believed every word he said because everything he’s said has come true,” Coppedge said.At Elon, which belongs to the Southern Conference, Coppedge will have a chance to display his “hidden” talent — catching the football.“The offense they run is the spread so that gives me the opportunity to do what I like,” said the leading receiver in the Firebirds ground-oriented offense.The son of Tracey and Ophelia Coppedge of Nashville, Coppedge was tendered offers by FCS programs Charlotte and Norfolk State. He plans to major in exercise science.Coppedge acknowledged theneed for heightened mental toughness as he enters college.“Knowing that there’s going to be people better than me,” he said. “It was like that here but this is college, the next level, and there’s things for me to push for and push other people for.”TWO FOR THE BRAVESHuffman, even smallerthan Coppedge at 5-8 and 160 pounds, knew his size was the main obstacle in procuring a Div. I offer. But, with his three teammates quickly vouching for it, Huffman pointed to his chest, signifying heart was the intangible that has powered and will power his success.“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Huffman said of his size disparity. “I’m not trying to be cocky but I think I got the biggest heart on the team.”Having fast feet helps, too, as Huffman revealed he runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash. Foster noted his time in a shuttle was a fraction under 4 seconds.Huffman drew recruiting interest but no offers from Wingate University, Chowan University, Averett University and N.C. Wesleyan College, proved to be a valuable recruiter for the Div. II independent Braves.“I went on a visit before him and told him how it was,” Huffman said of Boswell, the towering 6-7,320-pound left tackle. “He went on a visit the next weekend and liked it and felt the same way.”Boswell pointed out that he was glad to have a chance to continue to open holes through which Huffman could run.“Me and him ride to school every day, do homework together —we’re like brothers and we can help each other get through it,” said Boswell.Huffman, the son of Terron Huffman and Charlotte Riley of Bailey, said he will either major in criminal justice or athletic training while Boswell, the son of Harold and Donna Boswell of Bailey is undecided on a major.All four former teammates assured they would continue their friendships throughout college.“All I have to do is pick up the phone and call him,” Coppedge said of Huffman.And all four hope to continue the winning tradition they helped start at Southern Nash.“I’ll be disappointed in all ofus if we didn’t carry on,” Sessoms said.paukowtontimescom 1265-7808
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Wilson Times
Wilson, North Carolina, US
Thu, Feb 02, 2012
Page 12
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NC, USA 20 Oct 2020
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