Senior athlete takes college scholarship
Tanner Hayden has one regret about his senior year: the Greenbrier football team didn't make the playoffs.
Greenbrier High School senior Tanner Hayden signed a football scholarship to play for Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss. Hayden said he 'kind of fell in love' with the school during a visit, and will join former teammate Brooks Robinson at Belhaven.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"I really would have liked to end my high school career in the playoffs," he said. "But it didn't happen, and we had to move on."
Despite Greenbrier not making the playoffs, Hayden performed well enough to garner college attention, and he recently signed a letter of intent with Belhaven College in Mississippi. Hayden became the third Greenbrier football player to sign this year, following Josh Adams and Eugene Rogers.
"I kind of fell in love with the place," said Hayden, who plays offensive lineman. "The campus was real pretty and the coaches say that if I work hard enough, then I have a chance to start next year."
Hayden picked Belhaven over Tusculum, West Georgia, Charleston Southern and Kentucky Wesleyan. He said he felt he could play during his junior season.
The senior will join former teammate Brooks Robinson - who originally signed with Western Carolina - at the Jackson, Miss., school.
"Obviously, being an offensive lineman in front of Brooks gave me a chance to be familiar with him," Hayden said. "I'm excited about playing with him again."
Hayden said he felt his biggest weakness was in the weight room and said he felt he could work harder.
"Tanner is such a great kid," said Greenbrier coach Mickey Derrick. "He always does what you ask and is a real positive influence on everybody. He is a great team player."