Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln C.C. linebacker Terrell Hartsfield has taken another detour on his path to division one football. After growing up in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and spending time at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, Hartsfield now finds himself in a place he never expected to be.

"It's a lot different being here for sure. I'm a long way from North Carolina and I never though I would come to Mississippi for any reason, but things change so I'm trying to make the best of it," Hartsfield said. "It's pretty cool out here, honestly. The campus is pretty nice and I think my teammates are really cool. [Monday] was actually our first day of practice. It felt great to get back out there. I think our team can make some good things happen this year."

Not only is Hartsfield in a foreign part of the country, but he's also spending some time at a few positions on the field he's also unfamiliar with.

"I know I'll be playing some outside linebacker and some defensive end. We've only been through one day so I'm not sure how long it will last, but I spent some time at strong safety too. It was different, but it was fun," he said. "I'm just hoping to improve myself as a player while I'm here, and I might be a little more versatile when I leave here too. I'm definitely going to take advantage of the opportunity."

"I really just want to work on my physical measurables too. Right now I'm standing at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. I think I could be around 245 by next January."

If everything goes according to plan Hartsfield will be on the South Plains when that time comes.

"My timeline looks like I'll be here for a year. I'm on track to be at Tech next January. I'm just trying to stay focused on my bigger goal, and that's to be a Red Raider," Hartsfield said. "I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and I think it's really a blessing to have a relationship with the coaches at Tech because they're still taking care of me. I've got some time here to improve, so hopefully I'll do that, but I honestly can't wait to get to Tech."

Unsurprisingly, Tech assistant coach Robert Prunty has remained in close contact with Hartsfield all along the way.

"I still talk with Coach Prunty all the time. We've got a great relationship and he still checks up on me to make sure I'm doing alright, but that's not a surprise. That's just the kind of guy he is, which is why I'm so excited to play football for him and the Red Raiders. I've got some big things ahead of me. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and see in what ways I can improve myself while I'm here."


...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial