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Hernando Today

Emerging from the shadows

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

HCA grad Corey Drummond is beginning to receive significant playing time at defensive end for Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Mo.

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: October 23, 2009

Like many good high school football players in Hernando County, linebacker/defensive end Corey Drummond had the opportunity to continue playing football when he signed a scholarship offer from Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Mo. after his senior year.
But unlike many kids who go away from home to attend school, after some early problems Drummond is finally finding his sea legs with the Division II Bearcats this year.
After a fine high school career at Brooksville's Hernando Christian Academy, Drummond signed with Southwest Baptist College. But on arriving, he found out that playing high school football and college are two different things.
Drummond, who was named a co-winner of the Hernando Today All-County Defensive MVP after the 2006 season, has been at the Division II School for three years now.
And after being red-shirted his freshman year and playing linebacker the next, Drummond overcame the thought of giving up playing football altogether and now is seeing lots of action for the Bearcats as a defensive end.
After spraining an ankle during preseason camp and missing the opening two games, Drummond now is the back-up defensive end and during last week's 68-19 win over Southern Nazarene, the Brooksville's native had seven tackles, twice hurried the passer and forced one fumble.
"Everything is going good," Drummond said in a recent interview. "I missed the first two games, but now everything is good, I'm playing a lot and now that I've been here three years, it makes things easier."
That wasn't the case in his first two years at the school. Drummond was red-shirted his first year and last year as a sophomore linebacker, he seldom saw the football field during a game as he ended the year with just three tackles.
This year with a change of position, Drummond is seeing lots more time on the field. But according to his father, HCA Athletic Director Mike Drummond, his son was seriously thinking about not playing football this season.
"When we took Corey out there the first time, he was only 17 years old and we were apprehensive," explained Coach Drummond. "I'm sure there were times when he was homesick, but he never called to complain.
"He had more reservations this year as a sophomore. He had a longer summer away from school, he was changing positions. He felt he didn't understand the position because he had never played it. Then in August, he called and said he was thinking about quitting football, but staying in school."
Corey said that his decision not to quit football had a lot to do with the people back home.
"They expected me to do well and I didn't want to let them down," the younger Drummond admitted. "That's what I think about, all the people back home who put in a lot of time in helping me to get where I am now."
His father said that hearing from a friend of his son may have changed his mind about playing football.
"I told him that even if you never get on the football field, if you quit now you'll regret it later," said the elder Drummond.
"He also told me that someone who was a linebacker last year and was a friend of his had quit football. He told Corey that he regretted every minute of making that choice and I think that impressed Corey."
But going through being away from home does have its problems.
"When I got here, it finally hit me. It's like, 'Man, I'm a 1,000 miles from home'" said the Bearcat sophomore.
"I think staying here is a huge benefit. I think if I would have stayed in Florida and gone to school, I would be going home every weekend and having things done for me. But here it's forced me to be on my own. Instead here I have to do it on my own and I think I've matured a lot since I was a freshman."
His father thinks that staying in school in Missouri was the best thing his son could have done.
"All-in-all, I think it did him good," emphasized Coach Drummond. "It was a good experience for him. He'll look back on it and realize it was good for him to stick it out."

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