Marshall Duncan
The Union-Recorder
October 10, 2008 11:39 pm
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While the Baldwin Braves may have had an off week, this former Brave continues to shine on the collegiate stage. Wayne Bonner, who graduated Baldwin high school in 2007 after being named an all-state receiver his senior year, now calls East Mississippi CC home. Bonner began his collegiate career at Butler CC in Kansas, but transferred this season to be closer to home. Receivers coach Marcus Woods and the rest of the No. 16 ranked Lions are glad he did as he leads the team in reception yards with more than 400 and 6 touchdowns through 7 games.
“He was actually a Butler signee and transferred in to be closer to home. We had a chance to get him and he fit so well into what we do so it really worked out well. He’s been a huge part of our team success this year,” Woods said.
Bonner is set to graduate this December and hopefully sign with a Div. I-A school for finish his collegiate career.
While the Lions coaching staff know that they will only have Bonner and his skills for one year, his presence and playmaking abilities have already shown in a receiver friendly spread offense.
“It’s kind of a pit stop for him to come by and try and hone his skills. He does so many things well. He’s a big tall rangy receiver. He does a lot of things for us. He’s a great blocker, really hustles. We’re ranked in the top 20 so he gives us a vertical threat that’s hard to find,” Woods said.
The match was a win for all parties involved as Bonner is enjoying his success on and off the field.
“Everything out here is nice. It’s a place that I can settle down and focus on football and not worry about this and that.
On the field, I love the fact that we have a good team and good receivers and that we have a good chance of spreading the ball around,” Bonner said.
In the spread offense, a scheme not run by Baldwin when Bonner was playing, allows him to face one on one coverage in stead of the double teams he faced in high school.
“It’s kind of different because we didn't run that much spread offense at Baldwin so they could have two men on me, but here we run 4-5 wideouts so they can’t do that.
That gives me the opportunity to show what I can do in one on one.”
While Bonner’s athletic ability as taken him a long way, he makes sure to give credit to Baldwin Braves head coach Jesse Hicks for much of his success.
“Coach Hicks helped me out a lot because when I first started, I wasn’t all into football and Coach Hicks is really the man that got me into football because had he not given me a chance to get on the field, I don’t think I would be here right now,” Bonner said, who didn’t begin playing football until tenth grade.
“Wayne was probably one of the better pure athletes I’ve ever coached. He could do anything: punt, snap, kick, jump. He was all over. He’s one of those kids that just had a raw talent. I think the school that he’s at now is reaping the benefits from it. He’s no doubt a Div. I football player.”
While Bonner’s football skills have improved in his time at East Mississippi, Hicks, who talks to Bonner over the phone on a weekly basis, is also pleased to see that Bonner is maturing as a person.
“I can see some change in him in the way he’s becoming a mature young man and growing. You can hear it in his voice that he’s changing. I just know that him being there will make him a little bit better than he was before. We just know Wayne is going to do great things.”
While Bonner hasn’t decided where he wants to play next, he has offers from some of the top programs in the nation.
“I’m still looking. I’m going to wait til the end of the year in december and take my visits and see where I want to be because I’ve got offers from South Florida, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU and teams like that, so I’d still like to keep my options open,” Bonner said.
Regardless of where Bonner plays next, he will always be a Baldwin Brave and a native Milledgeville can be proud to support.
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