Lowery signs football scholarship with ICC
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RED BAY - After suffering a major injury, athletes often search for ways to keep themselves mentally motivated as they endure the physically exhausting rigors of rehab.
Red Bay senior Randy Lowery, who sustained a torn ACL in February of his junior year, thought about only one thing as he worked his way back to full strength.
"College football," said Lowery, who underwent surgery in March of last year and was back on the field for fall practice in August. "I'd dreamed about playing in college since I was little, and I wasn't going to let an injury stop me. I started doing rehab the day after I had surgery. I didn't miss a single weightlifting session over the summer or a single day of fall practice. I knew I had to stay dedicated."
Lowery's determination paid off in a big way on Wednesday, when he realized his lifelong dream of playing college football by signing a scholarship with Itawamba Community College in Mississippi.
Lowery's work ethic caught the attention of Itawamba's coaching staff.
"Randy may not be the fastest guy out there or the strongest guy out there, but he's physical and he's going to work hard," said assistant coach Ferrell Trimm, who serves as ICC's defensive coordinator. "We think he's got a chance to make an impact right away."
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Lowery's dream of playing at the next level began to take the shape of reality after a sensational junior season in which he caught 49 passes for 935 yards and 17 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to an 11-2 record and a state quarterfinal appearance.
Lowery injured his knee in the final regular season basketball game, and he underwent surgery the following month to repair the ligament. He began rehabbing the injury almost immediately.
"Randy has always been a really hard worker," Red Bay coach Dale Jeffreys said. "After he tore his ACL, he came back and worked even harder. He made himself bigger, stronger and faster. ICC is getting themselves a really good player. I'll be very surprised if Randy is anything but extremely successful at the next level and beyond."
Lowery's hard work last summer paid off during his senior season, when he surpassed Philden Stockton's school record for career receptions and helped lead Red Bay to a 12-1 record and another quarterfinal appearance.
Lowery finished his career as a Tiger with 110 catches, 20 more than Stockton's previous mark.
"I really enjoyed playing at Red Bay," Lowery said. "We got to play in a lot of playoff games, and that type of atmosphere helps prepare you for the next level. I owe a lot to Coach Jeffreys and [assisant] Coach [Greg] Cash. They really worked us hard in the weight room, and they made sure I got a lot of balls thrown my way."
Almost all of those receptions came courtesy of quarterback Kurt Kennedy, Lowery's fellow senior and close friend who plans to play basketball at the collegiate level.
"Kurt and I practiced together everyday at school," Lowery said. "He helped me get better at football, and I helped him get better at basketball by guarding him. I know he'll do really well in basketball at the college level."
Lowery, who was offered a walk-on tryout at Mississippi State, can expect to see plenty of balls thrown his way at ICC.
"We run a four-wide set, and we only keep about seven or eight receivers," Trimm said. "So they're all going to play. And Randy is physical enough and strong enough that he could probably lline up in the slot or even play a little tight end for us."
The opportunity to play right away and be involved in the offense wasn't the only thing that appealed to Lowery about ICC.
"It's close to home, too, and they've got a good program," Lowery said. "I want to go there for two years and get bigger, faster and stronger, and hopefully get the opportunity to play Division I."
And what is Lowery's four-year college of choice?
"Anywhere I can play. But the Tide sure would be nice," Lowery said with a smile.
Lowery's grandfather, Johnny Wayne Childers, also played football at ICC.
"I am so proud of Randy for everything he has accomplished," said his mother, Shea Lowery. "He's been a wonderful son, and he has worked so hard. I'm just very proud of him."
Randy's father, Jeff Lowery, passed away in 1990.
"I know if his dad were still here, he would be very proud of him," Shea Lowery said. "I'm very thankful to my mother [Pat Nelson] and father [Childers] for helping me raise these kids [Randy and his younger sister, Mandy, a junior at Red Bay.] I also can't say enough about what Coach Jeffreys and Coach Cash and [Red Bay principal] Wesley Thigpen have done. Randy appreciates them so much. We also want to thank David Ivey, Glen Jackson and Southeastern Athletics Recruiting, Inc., for helping promote Randy."
