The Boro Buzz Episode 16: The Road to D1

This episode on The Boro Buzz, we're joined by Providence Grove High School alumnus Carson Jones as he shares his incredible journey to becoming the first-ever Division 1 football player in Providence Grove history!! A GREAT finish to season 1 of The Boro Buzz! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back to another episode of the Borough Blue, and we're taking this from the Borough Nation, and welcome to the Borough Bus.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

We all access paths to everything sports in and around the borough. We're talking inside the lines and behind the scenes. Athletes, coaches, rappers, and the stories you don't hear on game day. If it's happening in the gym, on the field, or in the locker room, you'll hear it here. This is the Borough Bus.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

This episode is sponsored by Just Keep Swinging. From top quality equipment to custom apparel like hats, shirts, and more. They're more than just sporting goods store. They are here to support our athletes and community every step of the way. Whether you're gearing up for game day or looking to rep your team with fresh merch, just keep swinging has you covered. Give them a follow today.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

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SPEAKER_04 2:20

Good. How about you?

SPEAKER_03 2:21

Good, man. Thank you for taking the time to come out here, man. Because you you were telling me you got a what?

SPEAKER_04 2:27

I have to go down and move in.

SPEAKER_03 2:28

Dude, that's crazy, man. Uh, it's funny because I've seen you play, dude. I was filming the Ashboro Patriot uh Providence Grove game the last what two, three years, and dude, you got a leg, brother. Where does that come from?

SPEAKER_04 2:40

I mean, I played soccer my whole life, so I guess it just came from that when I switched over to football.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

When did you switch to football?

SPEAKER_04 2:47

Uh I ended soccer ninth grade year, but I started football eighth grade year. Okay. And then I started going to a coach in Charlotte freshman year, and that really helped me out.

SPEAKER_03 2:56

Who's the coach?

SPEAKER_04 2:57

Uh Dan Orner.

SPEAKER_03 2:58

Has he coached other big time kickers?

SPEAKER_04 3:00

Uh he has nine dudes in the NFL right now. And then he's he takes a lot of pride in his work because like if you turn on a game any given Saturday in college football, one of his guys is playing, most likely.

SPEAKER_03 3:13

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SPEAKER_02 3:21

Alright.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

Um, as we go into this, all right, you're going D1, man. That's a big deal. Um you're the f like, I mean, football wise, for Providence Grove, is there has there been a D1 athlete? Uh uh football wise, I'm the first. Really? Yes, sir. In the history? Yes, sir. That's awesome. So what it when did it become a reality that, hey, kicking, like, you know, you're like, alright, I made this transition. Wow, I can go to college for this.

SPEAKER_04 3:44

Well, I just took a look at soccer and I realized like, hey man, I mean, I'm pretty good at soccer, but I'm not the best. Like And then I was going in football at that time and I was doing really good. And sophomore year on JV, I had like three 50 yarders. I'm like, well, if this can get me a scholarship, I'm just gonna drop soccer and I'm gonna go for football. So after that happened, I kind of just went all in on football, quit soccer, and went kicking every day of the week pretty much until I figured it out.

SPEAKER_03 4:10

Do you miss soccer?

SPEAKER_04 4:12

No, not at all. It was a ton of running, to be honest with you. I don't miss a single bit of it.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

Dude, it that's true because everywhere I've seen soccer practice, I mean, y'all run like a hundred heels.

SPEAKER_04 4:21

Oh, I know. It's like in football, I should go out there, do my job, tap up my teammates, and it's amazing soccer. It wasn't like that.

SPEAKER_03 4:29

So uh are you excited? Don't you don't have to get your own tea when you kick at liberty, right? Don't they have someone that runs out there and grab the tea for you? Yeah, they do.

SPEAKER_04 4:35

Pretty nice.

SPEAKER_03 4:36

Um, as we talk about kicking, man, a lot of people are like, oh, kicker, you know, oh blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. What's so special about that role and how important is it?

SPEAKER_04 4:45

Uh yeah, a lot of people look at it like, oh man, you're just a kicker, you just have to go out there and do one job. And I mean, it kind of annoys me to be honest with you. Like, yeah, we do have one job to do, but it's a whole lot of pressure. Like, you're either the hero or you're nothing. Like, you make a kick and everybody loves you, you miss it, you suck, you're the worst there's ever been. And that's like a big aspect of it.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

And that's like an NFL, 100% NFL.

SPEAKER_04 5:05

Yeah. So that's like a big aspect of it. But like, I like it honestly, because I like the pressure. I feel like I do better under pressure. So, I mean, that's an aspect I like about it, really.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

Dude, and we talk about that, but people don't realize kickers usually are the most points scored in football with players. I mean, look at the NFL. Like, they're like, oh, this person has he has 300 points. Like, you know what I mean? Like, even in fantasy, I get more points on my kicker sometimes than on players.

SPEAKER_04 5:28

Nice when they put up 20 for you.

SPEAKER_03 5:30

You ain't lying. Um what's so so what who's been the biggest influence in your life to make that transition to football? Somebody had talked to you about it.

SPEAKER_04 5:39

Um, there's a few people. So in eighth grade, my best friend's dad, uh Jeff Lauver, he was the coach at that time. He's like, I need a kicker, can you come try this out? And my parents didn't really want me to play football. My mom was like, Oh, you're gonna get hurt and all this and screw everything up for soccer. But uh he convinced her to let me kick and punt and do all that. So he got me into football. He like started the love for it. So then I got transitioned over to Chip Butler. He's like uh the special teams coach at Providence Grove, and he worked with me all summer getting me like ready to be in high school. And then when I was like becoming serious about it, I went to Dan Order and he's who really like made my form good and all that and helped me out a whole lot.

SPEAKER_03 6:19

When you got hit that first time, did you did it sink in like, okay, wow, hold on.

SPEAKER_04 6:23

Um, I mean, my first time I had like contact in football, I actually tackled somebody. But there were plenty of times where I've been struck, don't get me wrong. I've been Do you sell it? Do you just kind of flop? Oh, I if somebody touches me, I flop like crazy.

SPEAKER_03 6:37

Is your acting good? Did they put you in acting classes?

SPEAKER_04 6:39

They did not, but some people would think I was. I mean, I had one time I got I had kicked off the ball. It was like my sophomore year. It went down to the five, the dude ran it all the way back, and I'm like running to catch up to him. His teammate blocks me in the back, and I just sell it and they get the ball taken all the way back. It would have been a touchdown if that didn't happen.

SPEAKER_03 6:57

Did you give him a wink after?

SPEAKER_04 7:00

I should have.

SPEAKER_03 7:02

Um with football, man, it's a grind, dude. Especially um, it's to me, it's it's something that the next level, it's like a full-time job. I mean, every sport is, don't get me wrong, in college, but football, I feel like it's you're in the weight room, then midday you got another lift, and you gotta practice, and you gotta practice at 5 a.m. the following day. Are you ready for that transition?

SPEAKER_04 7:20

Yeah, I'm excited for Liberty. I've been down there a lot, so the coaches have told me like what to expect. Like I'm doing a lifting plan that they made specifically for me right now, like the conditioning plan, but it's like wake up at 5 30, they watch you eat to know you're getting everything in your body.

SPEAKER_03 7:33

What?

SPEAKER_04 7:34

Yeah, they literally like they'll pay for the food and they'll serve you, but they will watch you eat to make sure you eat everything and you're gaining weight and consuming the right things. Yeah. And you like go straight into meetings and then like lift, then practice and then classes, then like walkthroughs. It's it's it's it's a lot, but it'll be fun.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

So while Liberty, 'cause you've gotten other offers, didn't you, if I'm correct.

SPEAKER_04 7:54

Yes, sir. I had some from Coastal Carolina. In the summer I went to a whole lot of camps for kickers, the only way to get an offers if you like do good at their camp. So I did really good at Coastal Carolina's camp and I did good at Liberties, and then like um Campbell University offered me really late in the game. And for kickers, it's just like the waiting game, like you get one offer and wait forever. But I mean Liberty really stood out to me. And to be honest with you, I was thinking about going to Coastal Carolina very heavily.

SPEAKER_03 8:23

You wanted the beach, don't lie.

SPEAKER_04 8:24

It was if the beach was nice. But um, so I was like getting ready to commit there because at that time Coastal Carolina was my only offer. So I was getting ready to commit there, and I'm like, I'm telling my parents, I'm like, I'm gonna call the coaches, tell them I'm committed this Sunday. Sat down for lunch that Sunday, and I looked on Twitter, because you know that's what everything football goes through, and their coach got fired. Like their coach. I'm like, well, I was just about to commit there, that might shake some stuff up. So ended up my the special teams coach that I really love from there, he got fired too. Because they cleared staff, cleared specialist room, so all kickers on the roster got booted. So I probably wouldn't have been able to go there. But the day after, the night after, I'd been waiting on Liberty forever. They'd never offered me, they'd always said they were looking for the money and all that. Night after their coach called me with a scholarship, and I'm like, Well, God meant it to be. That's that's how it should be. So I accepted that offer, and it's crazy because a month later, the special teams coach that I love so much at Coastal Carolina texted me. He's like, Can't wait to work you this summer. I'm like, What do you mean? He just got fired, I'm going to Liberty now, like, not adding up. And he got hired at Liberty. What? An outside land like linebackers coach and all that too. So I'm like, you know, it's just really meant to be that way, it's how God wanted it.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

So it's a blessing, man. Uh full circle, right?

SPEAKER_04 9:42

Yes, sir. It was crazy. I mean, I was the one day I was on the phone 19 times, just with like different coaches and stuff, trying to figure out like, I mean, I thought I had everything offset where I was gonna play for the next four years, and then it all just came down, and I'm like, I don't know what to do, but it ended up working out.

SPEAKER_03 9:58

So uh when you're making that decision, when you got the tour, is that when you knew it, or did you just knew when they called? Like, what was describe your tour? What was it like? What do they do with you, where'd they take you, what did you get to see?

SPEAKER_04 10:08

So I've been to Liberty a lot. Like, I've been there to the camp since I was in eighth grade. So I knew my way around. My brothers went there and all that. So they actually just called me one night. I was at like a Randleman basketball game. So I like stepped outside and he offered me and he offered me a scholarship, and I called my parents. I'm like, I think this is what I need to do. So the next day I just called them back and I'm like, I'm committing there, did my commitment post. And I didn't go down to my official visit until like three weeks ago.

SPEAKER_03 10:33

So I got the Is that when that dope photo photo on your Instagram came from?

SPEAKER_04 10:37

I was hype about that part the most. But yeah, we just drove down there, they showed me like the dorms, I met with the academic advisor, I took those those pictures, you know, I saw the stadium, I saw practice, and then I talked to the special teams coach for a long while. And that was pretty much what my visit was. I didn't have to stay overnight or anything because it's only a two-night drive or a two-hour drive. It's only two hours, yes, sir.

SPEAKER_03 11:00

That's not bad.

SPEAKER_04 11:01

Yeah, it's not bad at all.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

So you can come home and still see and all that.

SPEAKER_04 11:04

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:05

So so tell me, um, going through that tour, do they lay out your schedule? Can you tell us what your schedule's gonna be like?

SPEAKER_04 11:10

So like when I get there, uh like 5 30, like early mornings pretty much. And then you go to breakfast, you lift, team meetings, practice, and for practice for kickers, it's a little bit different than normal position. So like there's this pre-practice is what they call it. It's like nine kicks that they chart. So I take those nine kicks and then we move on to like kick off or punt, and then we come back to do like team, like full team field goals, so like with a snapper and holder, and then they'll chart those two. And as a kicker, everything's charted in college. So like when they decide who's the starter, they look back at the summer of workouts and all the charts, and they're like, highest percentage guy wins the job. So really, yeah, yeah, it's pretty much. And then like during the season, if the starter's struggling and the other backups like on his tail, they'll switch them out and see, but it's basically like highest charts wins.

SPEAKER_03 12:00

So it's really com it's really a competition, like it's literally numbers.

SPEAKER_04 12:03

Yeah, like me, it's so it's me, they brought in a transfer, they're bringing back a fifth year senior, and then they have one walk-on on the team. So it's me competing against four other guys right now with the starting job.

SPEAKER_03 12:15

Okay. But you like that grind, right?

SPEAKER_04 12:17

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm really excited. Um I think there's a chance that I get the starting job, and that's what I'm going for. Like I don't wanna I don't want to go to a college and sit. That's just not me. I want to win the starting spot and play. And I think there's a really good opportunity. I just have to capitalize and see.

SPEAKER_03 12:32

Are you any excitement on the schedule next year? Have they released it to you yet by chance?

SPEAKER_04 12:36

They just released it yesterday. Okay. Because one of the conference teams left the conference, so they had to release it later. But the game I'm most excited for is a non-conference game and it's coastal, Carolina.

SPEAKER_03 12:47

You won't get back out of front. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:49

Yeah. But um is it at coastal or is it at Liberty? It's at coastal. Okay. I mean, that's just I love their field there, so I think that'll be a really neat field to kick on. And then we open up the season with JMU, and that'll be a good game, too.

SPEAKER_03 13:02

They're always pretty solid in football.

SPEAKER_04 13:03

Yeah, yeah. So that'd be a great game.

SPEAKER_03 13:05

Man, uh as we get close to wrapping up, man, one thing I really love, man, is your passion, dude. You seem like a really good kid. Are you s what's your grades like?

SPEAKER_04 13:13

Uh, I'm mostly a straight A student. I have a 4.4 GPA. Jeez. There's like some AP classes that'll get like an 89, 88. You know, you just gotta take those.

SPEAKER_03 13:22

Yeah, well, it's funny because uh when I was in school, and I'm sure Medley right here, uh, the owner of Medley Studios, he'll probably back me up on this, but um, it used to be like 95, was it 94 and above was an A. Now it's what, 90s or A's, 80 is a B.

SPEAKER_04 13:36

I mean to even go. Most teachers get an 89.5 and they'll round you up saying A, so it's pretty nice.

SPEAKER_03 13:42

I'm telling you, man, Medley, what do we do with these guys, man? Uh um as as you it's your senior year, man. Um, talk me through as we get the last few questions, um, senior night. Did it hit you that, all right, man, I'm done. Oh my gosh, this is this is my last time playing high school football.

SPEAKER_04 13:57

Yeah, I mean, it did. I mean, there's honestly like people like, well, you don't have to worry about your going to college. I'm like, no, it's my last time with my boys playing football. Like, my close group of friends, like, yeah, I'm gonna miss it. And even now, like looking back at pictures of high school football, I'm like, man, that sucks. I wish I could play another game. It was really nice, but you know, it's just it happened, it was nice, I have to move on.

SPEAKER_03 14:17

You're gonna ride the motorcycle one day, come back and ride it.

SPEAKER_04 14:19

Oh, yeah, yeah, that'd be sick.

SPEAKER_03 14:21

How cool is it though, that interest that you had that you gotta run out with that? Talk about that interest, what y'all do for our audience that don't doesn't know, um, and talk about the excitement going through that tunnel.

SPEAKER_04 14:30

All right, so we have like a whole lot of motorcycles. Harley, they like Harley's just running out on the field in front of us. They all line up on either side of the tunnel, and then we have one in the middle of the tunnel that goes out with an American flag, and it's a really I think it's one of the best high school entrances, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_03 14:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 14:48

But in the tunnel, it's like you're super excited, and then you just smell the fumes of the Harley, and it's like, oh gosh, I might get lightheaded, but you're still super excited, so you run out. But it's really nice, and then as you're running out, they're all revving their engines in the student sections on the side, too.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

My boy Wyatt, he graduated, I think, two years ago. He's he's in the military. Um I think he was in the military. He was a big student section guy. You know somebody wrestled Wyatt? Yeah. He used to I would see him when I go film and he's like got his face painted and everything. Y'all students go wild, right?

SPEAKER_04 15:15

Yeah, they do. They do. I mean, we have a lot of students who take off their shirts, paint their stomachs, they go all in for the student section themes, and it's nice. It's nice.

SPEAKER_03 15:24

And uh, is there any coaches that you want to thank as we wrap up uh for this journey of high school? You know, it's you know, as you're you're still keeping the patriotic theme, you're going from the Patriots to Liberty.

SPEAKER_04 15:34

Um Coach Chip Butler, who got me into all this. I mean, that's a huge thank you right there. I mean, I wouldn't be where I am without him because he's who sparked the interest in me. And then Coach Moran, because he just a lot of coaches in high school don't trust a kicker to go out and kick a field goal, but he'll send me out. He's like, 60 and in, I'm sending you out, so be ready. And if I miss, he's like, you're going back in. Like Wes Davidson, I missed a 52 yard. He's like, I need you, hit this game winner. And then he sent me back out, hit the game winner. And I'm like, thank you, coach. I mean, without him trusting me, it would have changed the game. So Coach Moran, just for trusting me, sending me out, it's a big thank you.

SPEAKER_03 16:12

And uh what's the longest field goal? What's your record with right now?

SPEAKER_04 16:15

In practice or in game?

SPEAKER_03 16:17

Both.

SPEAKER_04 16:17

Uh practice 65 and game fifty-two.

SPEAKER_03 16:21

Okay, okay. Um, and how important is it to have the family that you have that backs you up and supports you on this journey?

SPEAKER_04 16:27

You know, for being a kicker, it's like you have to travel all over to go to your camps, get yourself in front of the eyes of coaches. So just my parents working for me, and like they're always back there in my corner fighting for me. But I mean, they get me around. I couldn't do it by myself. Then my brother's always supporting me, sending me messages. It's really important to me, and I wouldn't be where I am without them.

SPEAKER_03 16:46

Alright, one of my favorite things is we wrap as the final thing I do on these episodes with athletes like you, I call it the quick hitters. You just gotta literally, as soon as I say it, just go. Right first thing it comes. Alright, favorite NFL kicker. Joey Sly. Okay. Okay. Alright, favorite college team that's not Liberty. Not Liberty NC State. Okay, you a woofy? Yup. Go back. Favorite cliques. Oh, Nike Vapors. Game Day superstition.

SPEAKER_04 17:15

Game day underwear. Okay. American flag pair I wear every single Friday. Hype song. Anything Christian. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

Turfergrass. Alright.

SPEAKER_04 17:29

Favorite stadium atmosphere you played in. I played in. Probably at Providence Grove against Asperger's sophomore year.

SPEAKER_03 17:38

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 17:39

That was when y'all won, right? Yeah, that was that was when our head coach left from the year before. Yeah. And I was a sophomore and our senior got hurt, so it was like my opportunity to go out and play and I had a good game, and I was happy, but there was a lot of people there.

SPEAKER_03 17:53

Alright, pressure. Here we go. Pressure kick. TI game or game winner. Game winner. Okay. Kickoff or field goal? Dream Stadium to kick in. Tennessee. Tennessee? Okay. Favorite sports movie. Yeah, I'll count it. I'll count it. I'll count it. The funniest excuse you've ever heard for being late to practice.

SPEAKER_04 18:22

I don't know. There's one kid on our team who would always ride his bike to practice, like legitimately ride his bike to practice, but he was never late. He was always like 30 minutes early.

SPEAKER_03 18:31

Alright, man. Is there anything as we wrap up you want to say? As we sign up? I think I'm good. Thank you for having me. No, dude, it's an honor, man. I'm hoping that we can get out to Liberty and get some footage, man. It'll be fun to go out there and maybe they'll let us come up. Get connected. Come on, man. We'll come over there and tell them we'll come film for him and give them all the footage. Alright, sounds good. Awesome. We want to thank everybody for tuning in. The Burrow Buzz with Mr. Kicker himself, Mr. Liberty, aka Mr. Providence Grove, and the first ever D1 football athlete of Providence Grove. Make sure you go. Where are you at? Instagram and Facebook? Where we can we find you? Oh yeah, Instagram. Okay, which you know handle off the top of your head? Carson.14. Okay, give him a follow. I'm telling you, big wig right here. One day when he's in the NFL, we're all gonna look back on this episode and we're gonna know that the coaches really did watch what he ate. Thanks for tuning in. Make sure you like, share, and subscribe. We'll see you next time. Next time. Ready to dominate social media? Meet Core AI Media, your expert team of videographers and digital strategists powering data-driven campaigns with cutting-edge AI. We analyze, target, engage, monitor in real time, and deliver results that surprise industry standards. From skyrocketing engagement to crushing your goals, we are measured by results. Contact CoreAI Media today at info at coreaiimedia.com. Let's grow your brand fast. This episode is sponsored by Just Keep Swinging. From top quality equipment to custom apparel like hats, shirts, and more. They're more than just sporting goods store. They are here to support our athletes and community every step of the way. Whether you're gearing up for game day or looking to wrap your team with fresh merch, just keep swinging has you covered. Give them a follow today.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

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