Ashe County Middle School player Matt Greer was chosen as one of 35 players to make the Football University Western North Carolina team.
Football University is “an invitation-only, one-of-a-kind football training experience focusing on developing and enhancing the playmaking ability and skill of elite-level athletes in sixth to 11th grade. The training is provided by the NFL’s top coaches and players.”
Teams will play each other in each specific grade level across the country in a playoff-style format with the championship game being played in San Antonio, Texas.
Matt, who is the son of Eric and Becky Greer, can’t wait for things to get started.
“It’s pretty cool that the coach chose me to play on this team when they are only taking 35 kids from Western NC.,” said Matt. “I’m going to have to work harder than ever before in order to compete with these guys.”
Matt’s dad is certainly happy for him, and believes this will help him at the next level.
“His mom and I are very proud of him. Proud of the fact that he had the courage to try out for a team of this level, not knowing whether or not he would make it,” said Eric. “We wanted him to understand what kind of other competition exists outside of the Mountain Valley Conference, and if he wants to make it to the next level, that it is going to take year-round hard work and dedication.”
The Western NC team opens the tournament with a game against a team from Charlotte. Should they advance, they will then face the winner of the game between Charlotte’s second team and Greeneville, S.C.
Win or lose, Matt hopes that this is just the start of great things to come for his football future.
“I think this experience will help me get prepared for success at the high school level,” said Matt. “Also, I’m going to learn how much work you have to put in now and during the offseason just to keep up with the competition.”
This summer, Matt also attended a speed, strength and agility camp at Mash Elite Performance in Advance, N.C. The camp is operated by Ashe County native Travis Mash.
“Travis really worked with Matt on different techniques and strategies in things like the 40-yard dash, broad jump, and vertical jumps, and all of those things were tested at the FBU tryout,” said Eric. “Matt used things that Travis taught him, which we feel gave him an advantage over a lot of other kids.”
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