Three Darlington football players have signed athletic scholarships to play football in college. Next year, Chantz McClinic will play for Wake Forest University, Lawton Wilson will play for Carson Newman College, and Jacob Cook will play for Sewanee The University of the South.
The Rome News-Tribune article about the signings described McClinic as a Darlington player who loved contact, delivering hits as a running back and a safety. He was an All-Area pick as a running back, but will play safety at Wake. “He is multitalented and an impact player who you can’t replace; you just hope to move on next year,” Atha said.
In the same article, Coach Tommy Atha described Wilson as “a natural leader, who always had great poise.” Atha said, “He’s a very tough kid, very smart at the quarterback position. The All-Area quarterback is known as much for his ability to read defenses as his knack for ducking his head and running over people.
Jacob Cook was described in the article as “a legitimate animal on the football field, seeking out someone to hit from his linebacker position at all times.” That attitude was one thing that drew Sewanee to him, Atha said. “He really dedicated himself and worked hard over the summer and he really became an impact player,” Atha said.
