CENTRE – The first time Cherokee County High School football coach Jacob Kelley met Damien Ramsey and CJ Gresham, he was immediately impressed with the potential he saw in both.
He knew players could be dynamic, and they didn’t disappoint. Both were all-state performers.
Ramsey, who played at running back and linebacker last season, ran for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also posted 56 tackles with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack on defense.
Gresham, primarily a defensive back, posted 27 tackles (1 for loss) with eight interceptions for the Warriors (7-4).
On Friday, both of those dynamic players secured their football futures. Ramsey signed with West Alabama, while Gresham inked with Shorter University. They become the eighth and ninth players Kelley has had sign from Cherokee County in his three years as head coach.
“This is just like winning a championship for me. I’m very excited for both of them,” Kelley said. “We’ve got a great opportunity right here in front of us with these two gentlemen.
“Damien, when I got here, was a freshman. Me not knowing he was a freshman, I was like ‘Man, this is a good looking kid’, thinking he was a junior or senior. The fact he was a freshman really was exciting for me because it was like this kid has a lot of potential. He already had the size. Going into my first year, to speak on the dynamic player he was, he played tight end, linebacker, defensive end, and when we went heavy (packages), he started being the go-to guy, direct snap at running back, stuff like that. West Alabama is getting one of the most dynamic players we’ve had.”
Ramsey said he’s the first member of his family to go to college, something he’s “excited and proud of.”
He’s also excited of the fit he has with West Alabama.
“The type of athletes and guys they have over there, I feel like a lot of them are the same type of guy I am,” he said. “The coaches have showed me a lot of love and everything. They’ve said something about multiple positions, offense and defense, but mostly at the running back position. I’ve been with the running backs in their meetings.”
Last February, Kelley had a bit of déjà vu meeting Gresham, who transferred in from Saks.
“I remember going into the counselor’s office, and usually I’m bigger than the person that’s coming in, but CJ stands up and is like an inch taller than me,” Kelley recalled. “The thing I loved about CJ from day one is he’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve had. We could ask him to do anything.
“From a football standpoint, we didn’t have spring and we didn’t necessarily know what all he could do. I think it was Plainview, we went up there and CJ had done a little bit of quarterback, a little bit of receiver, a little bit of DB (defensive back), did a little bit of everything. He gets out there at receiver and literally nobody could guard him. He runs a go route and it was like ‘Oh my lord. سلوتس اون لاين ’ We knew CJ was dynamic. He was an athlete. He could a lot of things with the ball.
“We get to the season. There was a running back for Trion (Ga.), who’s playing at Kennesaw State, and CJ’s third rep on defense, he knocks him out. I talked to their coach the other week and that’s the hardest that kid has ever been hit.”
Like Ramsey, Gresham said Shorter’s coaches have talked with him about multiple positions.
“I’m just glad I’ve got a shot at the next level,” he said. “Once you get there, it’s like a fresh start, and once you get there, you’ve just got to prove a point. لعب قمار حقيقي
“I like their coaches. I like the plays they’re running. On my first visit they showed us a few plays, how they ran stuff. It was basically how it was in high school.”
Both players thanked their coaches and teammates for helping get them the opportunities that are now in front of them.
“If it wasn’t for our coaches and Coach Kelley, I don’t know if I’d be here right now,” Ramsey said. “They’ve all helped me with everything on and off the field. They’ve made me a better man, and I just thank them so much.”
“The sweet part is getting to play at the next level, but the bitter part is I’ll miss the coaches and everybody here,” Gresham said. “They all did so much for me.”