鈥楳an, I love this鈥�: How Chattanooga鈥檚 Evan Haynie fell in love with the game of football
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — In the 2013 Outback Bowl, Jadeveon Clowney made a play that would become one of the most memorable college football highlights of the decade.
Clowney busted through the offensive line and crushed Michigan tailback Vincent Smith. Not only did the ball fly out, but Smith鈥檚 helmet flew 10 yards behind him.
Sixth grader Evan Haynie saw the play after his soccer game and knew he wanted to sign up for football the first chance he got.
鈥淚 saw that and I was like, 鈥業 want to play football鈥�,鈥� Haynie said. 鈥淛ust to see a play like that and the crowd go crazy and the momentum of the game change and seeing it on SportsCenter for the next two weeks. I was like, 鈥楳an, I love this.鈥欌��
Haynie would become a natural fit at cornerback with coaching from his uncle, Ricky Thomas. After a collegiate career at Alabama, Thomas both played and coached at the NFL level.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get coaching from NFL guys all the time, so that鈥檚 been something to my advantage,鈥� Haynie said. 鈥淓specially in the offseason, I鈥檝e been trying to get with him and just learn some more tips to get better at my craft.鈥�
The hard work paid off as Haynie became a starter for the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn. as a sophomore last season.
鈥淚t was a big goal for me, because we had a team that was older, so there wasn鈥檛 a lot of room for young guys to play,鈥� Haynie said. 鈥淔reshman year, my body wasn鈥檛 where it needed to be. I was still a little bit smaller, so I took the offseason to get bigger and to just be more fit to play at that level.鈥�
Now a junior, Haynie plays both sides of the ball, as a dynamic playmaking receiver and a shutdown corner. His aggressiveness on the football field translates to other sports as well, as he also runs track and plays basketball for the Red Raiders.
Even though his future is in football, the life lessons he learns on the court or on the track are indispensable.
鈥淢y basketball coach knows my goal is to play college football, but he鈥檚 still using basketball as a way to make me a better man and be a better person,鈥� Haynie said.
In September, Haynie would receive an offer from the University of Toledo to play football. He has also had conversations with the coaching staffs at Kansas, Miami of Ohio, Coastal Carolina and Vanderbilt.
https://twitter.com/Evanhaynie__/status/1434199571996061709
鈥淚 want to go somewhere where it鈥檚 like a family and it鈥檚 not just individuals,鈥� Haynie said. 鈥淚 just want coaches that want the best for their players. That want to nurture you and make you the best you can be, holding you accountable on and off the field.鈥�
While Haynie is looking forward to the chance to play collegiate football, his biggest focus is getting a college degree.
鈥淭hat takes you far in life,鈥� Haynie said. 鈥淚 want to graduate without my parents having to pay anything.鈥�
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.