By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó D.J. Safrit is now the answer to a Carson football trivia question:
Who is the first Cougar to ever sign a full scholarship?
Safrit became the answer for the school, in its third year of existence, when he inked with Livingstone College last week on National Signing Day. However, he didn’t have much of an answer when asked how it felt to go down in history.
“The way I feel can’t be put into words,” he said proudly.
Actually, there are two words he and his family keep repeating over and over.
“Full ride.”
Safrit, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive lineman, shook his head. This all sounds too good to be true.
“The main reason I took it is, I don’t have to pay for anything. That’s mind-blowing,” Safrit said.
“It’s close by. And they have a good academic program.”
What Livingstone doesn’t have is much of a running game, ranking near the bottom of the CIAA. Safrit can help by blowing open some holes over the next four years.
“They only had six offensive linemen last year,” Safrit said. “They were practically on their knees praying no one would get hurt.”
That’s why Blue Bear assistant Eric Brown rolled up his sleeves and was determined to get Safrit to Monroe Street. Brown’s work impressed Safrit’s coach, Mark Woody.
“I think Livingstone did an excellent job in the recruiting process,” Woody said. “During the season, he’d call me throughout the week trying to get kids to come to games. After the season, he was one of the first coaches on this campus. He made no bones about it. Livingstone is looking to win.
“They’re excited about D.J., and D.J.’s excited about getting there.”
Safrit received interest from Methodist and Averett, among other small colleges, but academics had a lot to do with the decision, according to Woody. He has a 4.4 GPA and wants to major in engineering.
“He could’ve been accepted at other places and then walked on,” Woody said. “He could’ve gone to a place like Methodist but they didn’t have some of the things he wanted academically. He knows what he wants to do.”
Credit goes to Livingstone’s Brown for persuading Safrit to stay in the county.
“He’s a real good guy,” Safrit said. “He was straight up with me. He kept calling. And I felt comfortable when I went over to visit.”
Safrit also talked to players about Livingstone, especially former West Rowan star Bryan Aycoth, who is a Blue Bear quarterback.
“He said the coaches were tough on you on the field and nice to you off the field,” Safrit said.
Woody would like to see this trend continue with Livingstone.
“I hope it’s something we can build on,” he said.
Speaking of building, Safrit has done that with his body over the past year. With the help of his bodybuilding mother Kim, who he still works out with every morning at 6 a.m., he has sculpted his big frame by becoming a workout machine. His body fat has gone from 24 percent to 12 percent in the past four months.
“D.J. is big, strong and intelligent,” Woody said. “He’s a good-looking offensive lineman.”
Safrit made his presence felt this past season at Carson, which didn’t win a game in its first two years. The Cougars won three in Safrit’s senior year. The leader of the line helped Shaun Warren become the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher.
“I felt we could’ve done better,” Safrit said. “I would’ve liked to have won more. But that’s in the past. I’m a college football player now.”
Which means changing from that Cougar Orange to Livingstone Blue.
“I can wear blue,” assured Safrit with a grin. “I’m going to be a Blue Bear.”