Winona Christian’s Colby Marlow didn’t make the any weight lifting or running sessions with is teammates this offseason. But veteran head coach Junior Graham wasn’t worried at all, as he senior inside linebacker was getting all running he needed.
Marlow, the last player of the The Conservative/Winona Times Top 10 Players to Watch, wasn’t goofing off. Marlow and his brother, Cade, were going through basic training with the Army National Guard.
While he was missed in the weight room, Graham wasn’t worried about Marlow.
“I think they will be exposed to more this summer than they will ever see against us as far as tough situations,” Graham said. “Not only will it make them better but it will make our football team better and I think it will make our school better as a whole. They are military legacy guys and serving runs deep in their blood.”
Marlow, didn’t make it back to Winona until Friday, Aug. 3, just in time for picture day, although he didn’t dress out for the Stars in their preseason jamboree against North Delta and Canton.
But when he does don the pads, Marlow will take his position at middle linebacker, a place where he has started since the 10th grade. He will also see time on offense at tight end and linebacker.
“Colby plays our middle linebacker and will also play some tight end for us,” Graham said. “We moved him from fullback to tight end this year. If I had to go out and pick his strength, he’s got a nose for the football. He is extremely quick and has a high threshold of pain. Last year, he played with a broken leg to finish out a half. He’s a throwback kid. He’s a lot like Holland (Ingram) in the fact that he’s very intelligent. You can do a lot with him. He processes information quickly and that gives him a chance to be successful. On the defensive side of the ball, that’s what butters his bread.”
Marlow said he even learned some lessons in basic at Fort Benning, Ga., that he can bring back to Winona Christian.
“It was a lot like two-a-days,” Marlow said. “There are going to be a lot of things that suck but you have to embrace the suck. You just have to find something to motivate you and work hard. The focus level, Coach Graham always harps on focus level, and that’s one of his big things since he has been here. I really got a better idea of focus level and what maintaining a good focus level can do for you.”
Marlow said he found that motivation to push through the hard times from within.
“I was just focused on becoming a better soldier and a better person,” Marlow said. “I knew the quickest way home was to graduate. I knew I was going to be there regardless and didn’t want to look back on it and feel like I could do more. I wanted to be everything I could be.”
Graham hopes that push to excellence will filter throughout the team and lead the Stars back to the Class AA playoffs.
“We have got a good senior class returning this year,” Graham said. “Obviously, Colby is a big factor into that on both sides of the football. We are counting on him on both sides of the football. We might throw him in at tight end and we don’t lose a lot there. We have high expectations for Colby and for that senior class.”
While at basic, Marlow said he counted the days until he could be back on the field with his teammates.
“I’m excited, I’ve been counting down the days,” Marlow said. “I think we have to stay focused in practice and not just coming out there on Friday night and go through the motions. You have to work just as hard in practice. You should work hard enough in practice that games should be easier. You want to practice like you play. We have to maintain that focus level and hopefully this year we will have better leadership.”
Marlow also starts on the Winona Christian baseball team for Coach Shannon Self, where he plays third and pitches.
“He is a very competitive kid and has some of the quickest hands that I have every coached and he’s going to play 100 percent,” Self said. “He’s one that is coming back that we will have to have leadership out of. He is a good kid and easy to coach and the biggest thing is he is competitive. He is our No. 2 pitcher and he will have to come back and step up for us next year.”
Marlow is also a straight A student in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA and has already made a 21 on the ACT. After high school, Marlow said he plans on attending Mississippi State and majoring in either political science or engineering with hopes of being in the Special Forces one day.
Outside of football, Marlow said he likes to hunt and fish with his favorite being turkey hunting. His crowning achievement came this spring when he, with the help of teammate Latham Hill, killed his first turkey.
