MA’s Sease gets offer, sets official visit

Marcus Sease and his mother, Valerie.

BY LINDSAY VAUGHT

Three years ago, Marcus Sease sacrificed a year away from football to transfer to Madison Academy.

On Monday morning that tough decision paid off when he got the news that his dream to play Division 1 college football was about to come true.

The 6-foot-2, 205 pound linebacker/running back emerged during a stellar senior season as the Mustangs roared through the state 3A playoffs all the way to the Championship game in Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denney Stadium.

As the games got bigger Sease got better. Playing both ways his physical presence was the difference against running teams such as Lauderdale County and Rogers. Against Rogers he scored the touchdown that put Academy up 21-7 then turned around as an outside linebacker and tipped a pass away and then sacked the quarterback late in the fourth quarter to help put the Mustangs in the Championship game.

It was enough to impress coaches at The University of Tennessee at Martin who called Madison Academy Coach Eric Cohu and Sease last Friday to tell them he had been officially offered.

“It was real exciting to hear that I got offered. A lot of pressure was relieved for me to know I have somewhere to go to college,” Sease said this week.

“Last summer, I went to camp up there and they talked to me. During the season they called me as much as allowed. At the end it was once a week. I talked to Coach Bryant a lot and he came down for a visit and watched a game here,” said Sease who has his official visit set up for January 21st.

“They were looking at me for an outside rusher, playing outside linebacker or defensive end. They said I was good fit for their system and they liked that I called our defensive signals this season here at Madison Academy,” said Sease who is academically qualified.

“I always tried to make a good first impression with the coaches because I knew they were looking at me to see if I was a well rounded individual. They want me to represent their school and football team in a good way.”

Sease and his parents will meet with the coaches and meet his position coach.

“Then that night I will be assigned with one of the players from UTM to see what its like to live up there for a night. The next day we will talk about academics. I am looking at graphic design or athletic training,” Sease said.

Coach Eric Cohu was instrumental in promoting Sease to UT Martin coaches.

“He sent out film this year and last year. He always let me know when he talked to them.”

UT Martin plays in the Ohio Valley Conference of which Jacksonville State is a member.

That is the conference UNA applied for and was turned down recently. They also play a few major Division 1 schools each season. Two years ago, they played at Auburn. Last season they played at Mississippi State, and next year they open against Memphis at the Liberty Bowl Stadium.

“They are a good team. It’s good competition up there,” Sease said.