Why this Augusta-area football player made Gordon State his college choice
Rakeem Blount’s college choice wasn’t about school pedigree. It wasn’t about impressing others about his selection or anything else that typically moves the needle on recruiting discussions.
When the Westside defensive end, tight end and H-back decided to select Gordon College, he boiled it down to two reasons.
“At Gordon State, I just want to learn how to better myself as a man and on the football field, and I think they can help me do that,” Blount said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Blount took to Twitter and expressed his commitment, becoming the second Westside Patriot to commit to a college in the last seven days to make a college choice. Westside running back Xzavier Green chose Division III Methodist University last Friday.
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It makes sense that Green and Blount are choosing colleges not long after the traditional signing period began two weeks ago. Green had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, while Blount was second on the team in tackles for loss and tied for first in quarterback sacks.
Both players helped Westside to a 9-3 overall finish which included a 7-1 mark and runner up finish in Region 4-AA. Westside advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class AA state playoffs, the furthest playoff march the program has made in 20 years. It was also the first time in almost 20 years the school made back-to-back playoff appearances.
“My senior season was great,” Blount said. “We had a good coaching staff and good players. We did some things our school hasn’t done in a while.”
And it’s that success and the push of second-year coach Lee Hutto and his staff, that Blount credits for making him ready to take another step in his career.
“My coaches prepared me well, because we were in the weight room every day, grinding,” he said. “No days off.”
Gordon State is a junior college in Barnesville, Georgia that competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). While playing football for the Eagles, Blount plans to major in criminal justice. He said he considered several other similar schools, and a couple of prep school options. But ultimately, it was the warm reception he received when he stepped on campus that set Gordon State apart from the rest.
“They really welcomed me when I went there,” he said. “The coaching staff, and the team. They all made me feel like I was at home.”
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: High school football: Westside's Rakeem Blount chooses Gordon State
