The Union Yellowjackets are sending three former players to East Central Community College and all of them are assuming different roles.
Union held a signing day ceremony at the school last week with William Hughlett, Cameron Jackson and Christopher Chamblee all headed to East Central.
“I think the best thing as a high school coach is to watch kid as freshmen and sophomores and not only watch them develop as football players but as young men,” Union coach Jordan Wren said. “I think three of these are young me we can hang our hats on as how they have developed. I’m just proud of the hard work they have put in. It just shows that if you can make a consistent effort of working hard that good things can happen.”
Hughlett signed with the Warriors after a standout senior year for the Yellowjackets. He blossomed for the Yellowjackets after moving to the defensive line late last year. As a senior, Hughlett had 60.5 tackles and was named the Division 5-3A Defensive Player of the Year and helped Union to an 8-3 record and the division 5-3A championship.
“Going back to meeting him, he was 5-11, 200 and a really good skill player,” Wren said. “In the summer of COVID, he was in a car accident and had a torn labrum and that put him out. In that time out, he put on 40-50 pounds. When he came back, he was 6-0,245 points. He could really move well but he had outgrown his original position. He made a transition to the d-line. It wasn’t an easy transition, he actually hated it and wasn’t happy about it. He struggled with it at first but finally took ownership and realized it was best for the team. I thought he did a good job of taking that new position and running with it and I’m happy that he is getting rewarded for having an unselfish attitude about it.”
Hughlett said it’s been a dream to play college football.
“It feels good,” Hughlett said of signing. “This has been something we have talked about since we were in middle school. East Central made me feel wanted and said they would take care of me when I got there. Coach (Jonathan) Webster had done a good job and I think we will have a great season. He came after some good players. He did a lot of recruiting. They recruited me to play outside linebacker. “
Also going to East Central is Cameron Jackson, who will be a preferred walk-on. Jackson, who is 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, had a solid season for the Yellowjackets this season. Jackson had 46.5 tackles and three interceptions for the Yellowjackets and was named a Division 5-3A Super 22 selection, helping the Yellowjackets to an 8-3 season and a division championship.
“He was going to sign with Faulkner but decided to take this opportunity,” Wren said. “He’s undersized but they are getting a really good kid who will promote what they are selling. He will be a preferred walk-on guy who will have the chance to earn a scholarship. It’s a great deal for Cameron. I know what work ethic he has and what brotherhood means to him. He wants to go into criminal justice and be a U.S. marshal and that’s what he wants to do. He is excited to be a part of it.”
Jackson said he chose East Central to be closer to home.
“It’s a blessing and this is what I have always wanted to do in my life,” Jackson said. “I had an offer from Faulkner University. East Central is closer to home and I feel like that will best suit me and I felt like that’s where I needed to be. I haven’t had to time to talk to Coach Webster very much but it seems like he is a great guy and sees like he knows what he’s doing.”
Also signing with East Central is Chris Chamblee, who will be an equipment manager with the team. Wren said he thought it was just as important to celebrate Chamblee as the other players.
“Every program is always looking for good mangers that cannot have to have a thumb on them,” Wren said. “Chris played football from the seventh through 10th grades here. He loved football but didn’t think he was ever going to have a meaningful role on the team. I told him we had options, asked him if he would be interested in being a manager. He still lifted weights with us, I gave him a duty list every day and he would just do it and we would not have survived without him the last two years. He was in charge of the young managers and did all kind of stuff. They were looking for somebody and he said it was something he was interested in. He’s getting a full ride to be a manager and it’s just as important to celebrate him as the other kids who are signing.”
Chamblee said he was excited for the opportunity.
“I’m very excited,” Chamblee said. “I got to meet with the team and tour the facility. I’m really excited. I started when I was in fifth grade and have seen a lot of football teams. It was closer to home and knew I would have more friends. I’m excited.”
