ELIZABETHTOWN – With his family and teammates in attendance, East Bladen’s Jordan Payton signed Wednesday to play football next season at Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, California.
“I am excited,” said Payton. “It’s a long way to go, but I am ready. I am going there to do my best. I have dreamed about having this chance.”
So how did an East Bladen linebacker wind up being recruited by a California junior college. “When we scrimmaged Wallace-Rose Hill, their coach (Kevin Motsinger) noticed him and word was passed around,” said Eagle Coach Robby Priest. “Late in the year I got a call from an Allan Hancock coach asking about him, and I put him in touch with Jordan and his family.”
On hand for the signing were Jordan’s mother, Sabrina Smith, stepfather Ronaldo Smith and brother Jaquante Gibson. “I am a little scared, but I know I have to let him grow up to be a man,” said Sabrina Smith. “I know he will make the right choices. I have been praying that he will really do well out there.”
Athletic Director Patty Evers praised Payton’s demeanor. “Everytime I pass him in the hallway, he speaks. He is very polite, respectful, you have done a great job raising him. I wish him the best.”
Coach Priest pointed to the progress that Payton has made in his four years in the East Bladen program. “He has come a long way. He has put in a lot of work, especially in the weight room. I am glad he gets to play at the next level.“
This past season the Eagles posted a 9-3 overall record and finished second in the Three Rivers Conference. Payton was a defensive standout with 63 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. He also scored a touchdown on offense.
“I am very proud of him,” continued Coach Priest. “He has progressed from being a follower to becoming a leader.”
Allan Hancock’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach, Seth Damron, was instrumental in recruiting Payton. “They are looking at me as a defensive end, linebacker or H-back,” said Payton who plans to seek an Associate Degree in physical training.
The Hancock Bulldogs have won two consecutive American Pacific League championships and posted a 10-1 overall record in 2018. Former Clinton star Ryheem Skinner rushed for 1294 yards and 14 touchdowns and was the league’s 2018 Player of the Year. Another former Clinton player, lineman T. J. Boone, is also on the Allan Hancock team.
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