Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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As his hand, sparkling with two of his five state championship rings, emerged from the crisp little sack with a bright orange neck tie, it became clear that Abrams-Ward had chosen the University of Tennessee over the University of North Carolina.
“All the possibilities were there,” Abrams-Ward said. “The deciding factor was that Tennessee is in the best conference there is. The publicity is there. Not that it’s not there at Carolina. They [Tar heels] have a great coaching staff and they are up and coming in the ACC. At the same time, Tennessee, it’s the SEC. It’s electrifying.”
Fans of Thomasville athletics have seen Abrams-Ward dominate at linebacker and flourish as quarterback, but the 6’5”, 209-pound senior will be playing wide-receiver for Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and the Volunteers.
“Everywhere you play in the SEC, the game is not guaranteed,” said Abrams-Ward. “I believed everything Carolina said. They were on the up and up. The desire for them is there, but my desire is to be above that. The simple matter of it is over 100,000 fans at every [home] game, and the publicity and the players I’ll be going against, it’s crazy.”
Abrams-Ward’s decision not to play in Chapel Hill for Butch Davis and basketball coach Roy Williams was a difficult one and a choice he didn’t ultimately make until late Sunday evening. Abrams-Ward grew up a Tar Heel fan, but the chance to play at a university known for producing wide-receivers like Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper, Willie Gault and Robert Meachem — a 2007 first-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints — was too much to ignore.
“The position I wanted to play was wide receiver,” Abrams-Ward said. “My dream as a kid was always to play big at Carolina, but at the same time, I thought out of the box. It’s a lot tougher than people think, being a Carolina boy born and raised here with all my family and fans. I thought I could go anywhere and be happy. I was thinking it over, and I tried to weight the pros and cons. There weren’t that many cons from either side. It was just the pros — which one was higher. Tennessee speaks for itself.”
Despite his natural-given talent, Abrams-Ward knows there are still aspects of his game that will need to improve once he makes the jump to the SEC.
“I’m going to have to work on my speed. It will be fast out there. I can leap with the best of them. Still, the leaping ability is there, but I’ll have to work on my speed and my route-running.”
Tennessee hasn’t promised Abrams-Ward instant playing time as a freshman, but the Volunteers did indicate that should he go in, work hard, keep up his grades and continue to develop, the opportunity to get on the field sooner rather than later is a real possibility. The Tar Heels already have four established receivers in Hakeem Nix (6’1”, 215), Brooks Foster (6’3”, 205), Greg Little (6’3”, 210) and Brandon Tate (6’1”, 195) whereas Tennessee will be losing two of its top receivers from 2007 following next season in Lucas Taylor (73 catches, 1,000 yards, five TDs) and Josh Briscoe (56, 557, 6).
“For me to be able to come in early and have the opportunity to play as freshman in that conference says a lot,” said Abrams-Ward. “I feel that puts me in a better position than Carolina to play in the NFL. I do think I have that opportunity, it’s just the competition level.”
Abrams-Ward was noticeably relieved at his press conference Wednesday morning in front of Thomasville’s gymnasium, saying the pressure of the whole recruitment process had taken a toll on him. He admitted his anxiety affected him the night before in the Bulldog’s home loss to Jordan-Matthews where Abrams-Ward fouled out and got a technical in a very sub-par 15-point effort.
“It was all on my mind,” Abrams-Ward said. “I had my decision made, but it was a matter of letting everyone know and how it would affect people. My decision is made and I’m sticking to it. I’m 100-percent into it. I’m stress free now and I’m ready to go after it.”
As far as basketball goes, Abrams-Ward said he has spoke with UT hoops coach Bruce Pearl and Fulmer on the matter and the option is definitely open to play both sports provided he makes the grades in the classroom. Abrams-Ward will have to try out for the basketball team and does not have a guaranteed roster slot, but he feels ready for the challenge.
“I’ll have to see how that goes about,” said Abrams-Ward. “If my grades are there, I can do both. I just love balling, whether it’s the NBA, NFL, MLB or pro soccer. My love is there for balling itself. He [Pearl] said he would love to have me and will allow me to try out. Nothing is guaranteed. I’ll have to try out and if I get cut, I get cut. If I make it, I’ll try to contribute the best way I know how.”
Some experts feel that if Abrams-Ward expects to make it to the NFL he should abandon basketball and use the hoops season to lift weights and get stronger physically. Abrams-Ward is just looking to play ball, no matter what surface it’s on.
“Anybody that runs the court like he does with his jumping ability, has the chance to go to the next level,” THS athletic director and basketball coach Woody Huneycutt said. “It will be tough going from football to basketball. I look forward to seeing him give it a shot. I think he’ll have a chance to play a little bit.”
Physically, Abrams-Ward, according to several sources, has all the tools to succeed at the college — and perhaps the pro — level. Thomasville head coach Allen Brown feels Abrams-Ward is one of the best overall athletes to ever come out of the program, and the potential for him to succeed is in his grasps. Abrams-Ward is the second Bulldog to play at UT, joining former THS receiver from the late 1960s, Gordon Turnage, in Knoxville.
“Obviously, he’s quite talented physically,” said Brown. “He’s a big kid, he’s strong, has coordination and all the things athletically you want. He’s also a smart kid and he has a good work ethic. He won’t have any trouble working hard. He likes to play and he’s a good competitor. Recruiting him is a ‘can’t lose’ situation because there is a number of places he can really play.”
Abrams-Ward plans to leave for Knoxville in June following graduation so he can get a head start on learning the offense and getting up to speed with the rest of the team.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.