BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
If you have a childhood dream, you can make it come true.
Union County High School seniors Daylyn Diston, Auntrell Ross and Markus Strong are proof of that as they’ll get a chance to play football at the next level.
A signing ceremony was held Feb. 3 at UCHS, though Strong, a defensive lineman, had already signed with Oklahoma during the early signing period in December.
Like Strong, Diston, a defensive back, will get a chance at the Division I level, too. He signed his letter of intent to play at East Carolina University.
Ross, a defensive back, will be going to West Palm Beach’s Keiser University, which was the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) runner-up in 2022.
“It feels great because all three of us have been dreaming about it since we were little,” Ross said of getting the chance to play college ball. He added that is shows “the community you can do anything you put your mind to.”
Diston said, “It really is a blessing. Not too many people can say they’ve done this. It’s really a huge blessing to say that I did this.”
Sooner Strong
Since he officially signed in December, the Telegraph-Times-Monitor has already published a story on Strong. He was quoted in that Dec. 29, 2022, story as saying, “It’s a huge blessing. That’s my first feeling. Other than that, it’s pure excitement. I’m ready to go work for them — go to work and play football like I love to do.”
He was seriously considering such schools as Georgia Tech, Maryland and West Virginia, but he loved the atmosphere at Oklahoma and said he had some “amazing, good times” on his visits there.
It’s quite an opportunity for Strong, who missed his junior season due to an ACL injury. As a senior, he recorded 55 tackles (21.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks. He also caused three fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
“Everything happened for Markus real fast this year with the recruitment process,” Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas said. “He really didn’t have any schools on him because of his missing junior year. There was no film and stuff.
“I’m sure it’s extremely rewarding for him to know not to give up and to keep working, knowing that you can work and get back on the field and give yourself a chance.”
Thomas said the fact Strong went from little in the way of offers entering his senior year to signing with Oklahoma is “a big deal.”
“It’s a great opportunity for him to be in a program like that,” Thomas said. “It’s one of the biggest programs in the nation when you think of football.”
Thomas said Strong, at 6-3, 265, is powerful, but added that he’s also athletic for someone that size.
Strong is also versatile, able to line up inside or outside.
“He just brings a lot to the table because he can play so many different positions on the line,” Thomas said.
Strong is still a young player, Thomas said, explaining that he still won’t be 18 when he steps onto the Oklahoma campus.
“Hopefully, they understand how young he is,” Thomas said. “I think his ceiling is extremely high for being that young.”
The biggest thing for Strong is to be able to consistently work in the weight room, Thomas said. Because of the ACL injury as well as an already existing knee injury, Strong hadn’t gone through a full offseason workout program since Thomas has been the Tigers’ head coach.
“I think he’s got all the physical tools,” Thomas said. “It’s just maturing with his body and then continuing to work.”
In the Dec. 29, 2022, story, Strong said his excitement level will certainly be high when he steps onto the field for the first time as an Oklahoma player.
“I’ll be like a kid in a candy shop,” Strong said.
Getting on the field will be the culmination of a lot of hard work — on the field and in rehab.
“He’s got an opportunity to do some big things there,” Thomas said. “I’m just proud of him for not giving up.”
Diston to don some familiar colors
Several things stood out to Diston when he visited East Carolina, such as the impressive facilities.
He also couldn’t help but like the team’s colors.
“They’ve got everything,” Diston said, “and it’s a purple-and-gold school, just like my high school.”
Diston said he had approximately 17 offers, but one of the things that made him sign with East Carolina was Jules Montinar — a coach he developed a relationship with when Montinar was at Temple. Montinar is now East Carolina’s cornerbacks coach/defensive pass game coordinator.
“The day he got to ECU, I was one of the first people he called,” Diston said. “I felt like that man really sees something in me, so I just had to go play for him.”
After becoming an official ECU Pirate during his signing ceremony, Diston said the opportunity is a blessing.
“It really is awesome, and it’s put smiles on people’s faces around the community and especially my family,” he said.
Thomas said Diston basically “came out of nowhere” when he put together a junior season that consisted of 36 tackles and six interceptions.
“He let his on-field performance kind of speak for itself, going from an unknown kid to being recruited by a lot of schools,” Thomas said.
Two of his six interceptions his junior season were returned for touchdowns in a 52-14 win over Hilliard in a Region 3-1A semifinal playoff game.
“That was crazy,” Diston said. “It was a lot of work that paid off.”
Last season, Diston had three interceptions (with one returned for a touchdown), a caused fumble and a fumble recovery to go along with 25 tackles.
“They’re recruiting him as a corner,” Thomas said. “He played safety for us. He can get up there and be a kid who can play multiple positions, depending on their need and how he develops and where he develops. He can end up being a safety. He can be a nickel or be a corner.
In describing his game, Diston, who’s 6-0, 175, said, “I’m so long. I can get picks easier and stuff like that. I can read the offense. Being an offensive player, too, I know what they’re going to run.”
Thomas said Diston just has a knack for taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
“He brings a lot to the table. Has great ball skills. His instincts are really good,” Thomas said, adding, “Sometimes he freelances a little bit, which can get you in trouble at times, but at the same time, he sees a lot on the field and can make plays.”
Diston is eagerly looking forward to stepping onto the field for the first time as an ECU Pirate.
“I’m going to love it,” he said. “I’m just waiting for that day to come. I’m just so blessed.”
Ross joining a ‘brotherhood’
Ross said he was looking at six or seven schools, but at Keiser, he saw a program that just feels special.
“The reason I chose Keiser is they’re building a brotherhood,” Ross said. “They have a strong coaching staff. It’s a strong team. They can do something special. I want to be a part of that.”
After making it official during the Feb. 3 signing ceremony, Ross said, “It just feels amazing. I can finally say I got a scholarship for football.”
He’ll also get the opportunity to participate in track and field at Keiser. Right now, Ross, who’s 6-1, 160, competes in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as the long jump.
The speed he puts on display in those sprints also pays dividends on the football field.
“My strength is my speed,” Ross said. “I’m able to get across the field really quickly.”
Thomas said, “He’s got such great athleticism that he’s got a chance to be a really good player.”
Ross has a lot of potential, Thomas said, explaining that Ross had primarily been a backup until entering his senior season. Ross made 34 tackles and had three interceptions for the Tigers in 2022.
“I think his ceiling is just really high,” Thomas said, adding, “You could see his development through the year. His confidence level got higher and higher the more he played.”
His dream of getting the chance to play college football may have come true, but Ross admitted he’ll probably still feel like he’s dreaming when he steps onto the field for the first time as a Keiser Seahawk.
“It’s not going to feel real,” he said. “I’m just going to soak it all in and pray for the best.”
