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Gilmer’s Cole Haley headed to Concord

Titan was first-team all-stater

Gilmer County’s Cole Haley, pictured here giving a stiff arm to Calhoun County’s Caden Hicks, will continue his career on the gridiron at Concord University. Photo by Joe Albright.

GLENVILLE — A special senior season for Gilmer County first-team Class A all-state linebacker Cole Haley is something he’s never going to forget, but the now ex-Titan will have the chance to make plenty of new memories as he opted to continue his gridiron career for Division II Mountain East Conference member Concord University.

Although currently undecided on a major, the Mountain Lions recruited Haley to be a Mike linebacker and he’s heading to Athens as a preferred walk-on.

“They said there could be a chance I get redshirted,” admitted Haley, who was a four-year starter and missed just one game in his career.

Haley compiled nearly 150 tackles and had seven sacks and two forced fumbles as the Titans completed the first undefeated regular season in school history. Following Gilmer County’s first playoff win in school history — a victory versus Summers County — the Titans concluded their campaign at 11-1 after falling to eventual Class A state champion St. Marys.

“Last summer I went down there on a visit with Trey (Shuff) and we thought it was a pretty cool environment down there,” said Haley, who was a four-year starter in baseball and lettered three years in basketball. “They are getting new dorms and the campus is really nice.

“Football is definitely my favorite sport. I’ll miss playing basketball and baseball, but I wouldn’t want to play those two in college. I’m not good enough to play basketball in college. I don’t know about baseball.”

Haley added that “I’ve always wanted to play college football since I was little. My dad played college football at Glenville when Rich Rod(riguez) was here. I kind of wanted to stay here because of my friends and family, but Concord isn’t too far away.”

The Mountain Lion also said he definitely “likes defense better. I don’t really care to be on offense. My ninth and 10th-grade year I played the line and I didn’t really want to be on the offensive side of the ball, but only having like 20 people you had to do that. I like defense way better.”

As much fun as he had being a member of Gilmer County’s state tournament basketball team, Haley enjoyed the football campaign the most.

“I thought that was pretty cool, but I didn’t care as much about that as I did our season,” Haley said of earning first-team all-state status. “(My favorite memory) was when Peyton Roberts scored that touchdown. That was pretty awesome.

“It was our last game at home against Meadow Bridge and Peyton is our manager. He’s pretty much all the way blind (and has autism) and he got in for a play and the other team let him score a touchdown. Everybody went crazy.”

Haley has spent the last few weeks doing Concord’s workout program. He has to report to campus on Aug. 5 and everyone else comes in on Aug. 14.

“I read pretty well,” Haley said of one of his best defensive attributes. “I’ve gotten better at reading during the past few years. I think I’m strong enough, but I’d say I have to get a little bit faster.”

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