Tiger foursome headed to the next level

A foursome of ferocious Marshall County Tiger defenders in Davey Maddox, Quan Greer, Dusty Nance, and Dutch Church all signed letters of intent as part of Wednesday's College Football National Signing Day.

Maddox, Greer, and Nance will be headed to Jefferson City to suit up with the Carson-Newman Eagles, while Church will also be headed east to continue his gridiron career for the Tusculum Pioneers.

Tiger head coach Tom Turchetta, who was present at the signing at MCHS said about the four moving on to the next level and what it means to the success of the Tiger program.

"I think this is vitally important for the kids, the players, especially the underclassmen, who see the fruits of hard work," said Turchetta. "These seniors have gone through a lot. They've been through a coaching change and they had some hard times. Stuff that we do is a shock to their system and they stayed the course and fought through it."

Maddox, a two-time Region12-AA Defensive MVP and a 2011 first team Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State pick, leads the pack after an outstanding senior season where he registered 139 tackles (95 unassisted).

Maddox also had eight quarterback sacks, 15 quarterback pressures, 26 tackles for losses, caused four fumbles, recovered two loose balls, while also registering a blocked punt on special teams.

"Every little kid that starts out in little league football or joins Pop Warner dreams of this," said Maddox. "Marshall County football is one of the best experiences that I have ever had, I love Marshall County football, and I always have. I dreamed of being on the high school team. I never dreamed I would be a star, but that's the way it turned and I am grateful for it."

Maddox sports a stellar 3.79 G.P.A. and wants to enter the Law Enforcement field and one day work with the Drug Enforcement Task Force or SWAT team.

Also leaving the Tiger's Den for the next level at Carson-Newman is standout defensive back Quan Greer, who claimed a Region 12-AA Super All-Region nod in 2011 and was an All-District selection in 2010.

Greer also had some big numbers with 88 tackles (62 unassisted), three tackles for losses, three game-saving tackles, two interceptions, and one caused fumble.

"This just feels wonderful, I am just glad I have the support of my teammates and my family," said Greer. "These guys are more than my teammates, because I have known them since we were like five years old, so that will make me feel more comfortable and play better."

Greer has a 2.65 G.P.A. and wants to major in Business Administration, saying to the young players and students behind him, "Just work hard, that's what I have been doing since I was a little kid and you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and put God first."

Linebacker Dusty Nance was the third Carson-Newman signee and earned post-season accolades as well, being named a Super All-Region player this year and an All-District selection in his junior season.

Nance recorded 54 tackles (43 unassisted) in 2011, had eight quarterback pressures, 12 tackles for losses, one caused fumble and recovery, and rushed for 79 yards, caught five passes, and scored one touchdown on offense.

"With all the hard work we put in on the field it feels amazing just to see how much you can succeed," said Nance. "In our sophomore year, we went like 1-9, it was bad, we did not want to have anything to do with football and then Coach 'T' came in and he turned it around and this year to make a run to the third round of the playoffs feels good."

Nance, who will room with Maddox in Jefferson City and will enter the Pre-Med curriculum, sports a whopping 3.87 G.P.A. at MCHS.

The Tusculum College signee, Dutch Church was a bone-crushing linebacker for the Tigers and had 132 tackles (80 unassisted), three tackles for losses, one sack, and one caused fumble.

Church was also a Region 12-AA Super All-Region selection in 2011 and wants to be a football coach at MCHS after his college playing days.

Church said about moving up, "It is everything I wanted to do since I was little, so it means a lot to me. This Marshall County program means so much to me. It has helped me grow as a person and a player and I love it here and I will be back."

The linebacker talked about the elevation of the Tiger program since Turchetta took over, "It was real exciting, to make it to the third round this year was pretty exciting and to be only the fourth team to do it was special."

An elated Turchetta added, "This is an exciting thing, this doesn't happen to everybody, scholarships are not a dime a dozen, they're gold and people don't give them away very easily. So, it is a tribute to them, their hard work, and everything that they have done and I am so happy for them all."

Turchetta said about losing four great players, "I don't know if you ever replace these kids. I think that's why every year, your football team has to develop their own personality and own identity. Because what we have accomplished this year, because of their accomplishments, these kids have left a legacy, and it has motivated our underclassmen."