By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
MOUNT ULLA ó To play center for West Rowan, you must be disciplined and intelligent.
Garrett Teeter proved to be both for the Falcons over the past two seasons.
“We’re going to miss him,” West coach Scott Young said. “He is very smart. He made all of our line calls for us.”
Brains and discipline is exactly what Georgia Military looks for. Teeter signed recently with the junior college.
He follows a long list of Falcon seniors who signed after West won the 3A state championship game:
– Brantley Horton and Marco Gupton are going to the Naval Academy.
– Kenderic Dunlap signed with UNC Pembroke.
– Matt Turchin and Kameron Finchum are headed to Emory & Henry.
Rising senior K.P. Parks has committed to Virginia. Chris Smith, a standout defensive lineman, is expected to commit shortly to a Division I school.
The latest Falcon in the spotlight is Teeter, who proudly wears his Georgia Military T-shirt around the West campus. The 5-foot-11, 240-pounder can’t wait to get to Milledgeville, Ga., for the next step in his football career.
“It’s been crazy,” Teeter said. “It was a super high during the football season and we’re still riding that high out. It’s not over yet. This opportunity is just continuing it all for me.”
Georgia Military started its program in 1991 and won the NJCAA national championship in 2001. It has two second-place national finishes since and has sent 20 players to the NFL since 1995, including A.L. Brown receiver Aundrae Allison, now with the Minnesota Vikings.
Teeter is keeping his sense of humor when area fans give him quizzical looks.
“Some people don’t know what you mean when you say Georgia Military,” Teeter said. “They’re like, ‘Well, that’s good. Where is that?’ ”
For the record, Milledgeville is smack dab in the center of the state, an hour north of Macon.
“It’s in the middle of nowhere, really, but it’s a nice town,” he said.
What does Teeter expect in two years?
“I hope I can get to 6-1, 6-2 and 300 pounds, then get a chance to play Division I,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking to get out of this.”
–
Nate Dulin didn’t get a scholarship but the 5-foot-8 linebacker does have a place to play next season: Virginia Union of the CIAA.
Young said the hard-hitter, who helped stifle West Craven’s vaunted passing attack in a 35-7 state title win, will be an invited walk-on. He joins former Falcon teammate John Noble in Richmond.
“We’re real happy for Nate,” Young said. “He played some great football for us at the end of the season. He’s just a little undersized.”
“Size shouldn’t matter,” Dulin said. “It’s how hard you play. As long as you’ve got the mindset, you can do anything.”
Dulin sees himself as a strong safety in college.
“It will be a quicker pace,” he said. “I’ve got to get a lot faster.”
Young thinks Dulin can make it.
“He’s real little as far as height but he’s very well put together,” Young said. “He has done a lot in the weight room and his speed is decent. He runs pretty well.”