BENTON, Mo. — A couple of star Kelly defenders recently signed to play college football, proving that hard work and commitment to excellence can indeed pay off.
With a combination of skill, hard work and dedication, Jacob Chapman and Landon Gregory have proven that anything is possible with enough determination.
“It’s always exciting as a coach to see players achieve their goals,” said Kelly coach Lance Powers. “It makes you and your coaching staff smile to know we helped them get to that point. It helps us to know that we did our job as staff to help them get to that point.”
Both players served as team captains for the Hawks this past season.
Chapman signed to continue his academic and athletic career at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.
“I felt like this was the right place for me because of the high energy the coaches brought when I went on my official visit,” Chapman said. “Missouri Valley College also has very nice facilities and the coaches made me feel very welcome there."
Chapman finished this past season with 59 tackles, two tackles for a loss and one interception. Offensively, he made 10 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown.
“This means the world to me,” Chapman said. “I never imagined making it this far after moving to Louisiana my sophomore year and not being able to play football due to COVID and hurricanes.”
Chapman returned from Louisiana before his junior year to finish his education at Kelly.
“After that year I knew I wanted to play at the next level so I worked my tail off during the offseason and it paid off,” Chapman said. “None of this would have been possible without coach Powers always pushing me to be my best.”
Chapman plans to play safety for the Vikings, who are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
“[Chapman’s] leadership was second to none,” Powers said. “He did a great job of filling the shoes of the guys in front of him from year past. He embraced that role. Having [Chapman] anchoring the secondary was huge for us. He made sure everyone was in the right place, and he was never afraid to come up and lay the wood.
“He’s a hard worker, a weight-room guy and film junkie,” Powers continued. “Those are the traits a coach wants, and he has them all.”
Gregory signed to play sprint football at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois.
Sprint football has been around for nearly a century at American colleges and universities. The sport emphasizes quickness and agility over size and strength, and players must not exceed the 178-pound weight limit.
“I knew this was the right place for me because it felt like home,” Gregory said. “The coaching staff welcomed me into their program, and I like what they have going on. It means the world to me. Playing football at the next level has always been a dream of mine. I love the sport and can't wait to continue being the best teammate that I can be.”
Gregory is affectionately referred to as “The Blonde Hair Bandit,” and finished this past season with 54 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two force fumbles and one fumble recovery.
“We could always count on [Gregory] to make plays,” Powers said. “He has a high-motor and just doesn’t stop. He always did his job, played hard on every down and is going to give you maximum effort on both sides of the ball.
“I expect him to do great things up there and fit right in with the program,” Powers continued. “That coaching staff is getting a good football player and he’ll do some big things.”
The Hawks compete in the Midwest Sprint Football League (MSFL).
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