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Football is the ultimate team sport.
In order to be successful, you have to be able to count on the man lining up beside you.
For two seniors at Troup High, trust is just one thing they have built over their years of playing football together.
Heath Arrington and Jamical Tatum are each three-year starters for the Tigers. It’s no surprise to see the two walking the halls at school together, pumping iron in the weight room or even eating dinner with the rest of the linemen in town.
Arrington, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound center, has been handling the snaps for Troup for the past three seasons. Lining up directly beside Arrington for the past three seasons has been his teammate and best friend, Tatum, a 6-1, 305-pound right guard.
Together, the two seniors have been the model of consistency for the Troup offensive line.
Laying down defensive linemen to open a hole for the Tigers’ ground game, or being able to hold a rushing linebacker just long enough to fire a pass have become commonplace for Arrington and Tatum.
Their play on the field has become as dependable and guaranteed as the excitement that surrounds the game of football alone.
However, what many people don’t know about the two is the friendship and respect they carry off the field.
“We’re really like brothers,” Arrington said. “We’re always together.”
“We’ve known each other for a very long time,” added Tatum. “We’re best friends.”
Since they were both in seventh grade, Arrington and Tatum have played beside each other as offensive linemen. They have not only become best friends, but they have also become special players to Troup head coach Bubba Jeter.
“As a coach, you couldn’t ask for anymore from these two men,” Jeter said. “They are perfect offensive linemen. They are big, fast, physical and very coachable. They are very special players and we’re going to miss both of these men when they’re gone. What makes them even more special, though, is the fact that they are both just good people. They are both disciplined young men, they do well in school and they are great role models.”
Playing alongside each other for so many seasons has created a special comfort level for Arrington and Tatum.
“It’s nice to know that if I mess up and somebody gets by me, then I know Jamical is going to have my back,” said Arrington.
“I know what he’s capable of doing and he knows what I can do,” Tatum said.
This year is the final season the two best friends will be teammates before heading off to college next fall.
Arrington has his sights set on schools such as Georgia Southern, Jacksonville State and Furman.
Tatum, on the other hand, recently received his first NCAA Division I offer from Western Kentucky.
Both are excited about what lies ahead after high school, but they know there is still business to tend to as Tigers at Troup High School.
The Tigers are 4-3 overall and 4-3 in Region 2-AAA play, and with only three guaranteed games remaining in their high school careers, Arrington and Tatum are on the outside looking in the playoff race.
However, by defeating the Columbus Blue Devils on Saturday at Kinnett Stadium, the Tigers were able to keep their post-season hopes alive.
In order for Arrington and Tatum to reach the Class AAA state playoffs in their senior seasons, they are going to have to win their final three regular-season games against Jordan, Kendrick and LaGrange. The task is tough, but Arrington and Tatum both feel positive about the possibility of playing in one final post-season as Troup Tigers.
“It’s been a disappointing season, but this is the toughest region in the state,” Arrington said. “We will make it to back to the state playoffs.”
The players will be missed, especially by their coach who has gotten to know them so well.
One memory of Arrington and Tatum especially stands out for Jeter, and it’s not something that happened on the football field.
“It was absolutely hilarious,” Jeter said. “Heath and Jamical were out riding four-wheelers threw the woods one day and they somehow found their way to my house. When I saw who it was I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Here are these two guys, combining to weigh about 600 pounds, riding together on this four-wheeler. The four-wheeler was maxed out and leaning back like it was going to flip at any minute. What made it so funny, though, was seeing Jamical riding with this helmet and goggles. It was a sight to see.”
Troup will try to keep its playoff hopes alive Friday when it hosts Jordan in a region game.
It will be homecoming for the Tigers.
In order to be successful, you have to be able to count on the man lining up beside you.
For two seniors at Troup High, trust is just one thing they have built over their years of playing football together.
Heath Arrington and Jamical Tatum are each three-year starters for the Tigers. It’s no surprise to see the two walking the halls at school together, pumping iron in the weight room or even eating dinner with the rest of the linemen in town.
Arrington, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound center, has been handling the snaps for Troup for the past three seasons. Lining up directly beside Arrington for the past three seasons has been his teammate and best friend, Tatum, a 6-1, 305-pound right guard.
Together, the two seniors have been the model of consistency for the Troup offensive line.
Laying down defensive linemen to open a hole for the Tigers’ ground game, or being able to hold a rushing linebacker just long enough to fire a pass have become commonplace for Arrington and Tatum.
Their play on the field has become as dependable and guaranteed as the excitement that surrounds the game of football alone.
However, what many people don’t know about the two is the friendship and respect they carry off the field.
“We’re really like brothers,” Arrington said. “We’re always together.”
“We’ve known each other for a very long time,” added Tatum. “We’re best friends.”
Since they were both in seventh grade, Arrington and Tatum have played beside each other as offensive linemen. They have not only become best friends, but they have also become special players to Troup head coach Bubba Jeter.
“As a coach, you couldn’t ask for anymore from these two men,” Jeter said. “They are perfect offensive linemen. They are big, fast, physical and very coachable. They are very special players and we’re going to miss both of these men when they’re gone. What makes them even more special, though, is the fact that they are both just good people. They are both disciplined young men, they do well in school and they are great role models.”
Playing alongside each other for so many seasons has created a special comfort level for Arrington and Tatum.
“It’s nice to know that if I mess up and somebody gets by me, then I know Jamical is going to have my back,” said Arrington.
“I know what he’s capable of doing and he knows what I can do,” Tatum said.
This year is the final season the two best friends will be teammates before heading off to college next fall.
Arrington has his sights set on schools such as Georgia Southern, Jacksonville State and Furman.
Tatum, on the other hand, recently received his first NCAA Division I offer from Western Kentucky.
Both are excited about what lies ahead after high school, but they know there is still business to tend to as Tigers at Troup High School.
The Tigers are 4-3 overall and 4-3 in Region 2-AAA play, and with only three guaranteed games remaining in their high school careers, Arrington and Tatum are on the outside looking in the playoff race.
However, by defeating the Columbus Blue Devils on Saturday at Kinnett Stadium, the Tigers were able to keep their post-season hopes alive.
In order for Arrington and Tatum to reach the Class AAA state playoffs in their senior seasons, they are going to have to win their final three regular-season games against Jordan, Kendrick and LaGrange. The task is tough, but Arrington and Tatum both feel positive about the possibility of playing in one final post-season as Troup Tigers.
“It’s been a disappointing season, but this is the toughest region in the state,” Arrington said. “We will make it to back to the state playoffs.”
The players will be missed, especially by their coach who has gotten to know them so well.
One memory of Arrington and Tatum especially stands out for Jeter, and it’s not something that happened on the football field.
“It was absolutely hilarious,” Jeter said. “Heath and Jamical were out riding four-wheelers threw the woods one day and they somehow found their way to my house. When I saw who it was I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Here are these two guys, combining to weigh about 600 pounds, riding together on this four-wheeler. The four-wheeler was maxed out and leaning back like it was going to flip at any minute. What made it so funny, though, was seeing Jamical riding with this helmet and goggles. It was a sight to see.”
Troup will try to keep its playoff hopes alive Friday when it hosts Jordan in a region game.
It will be homecoming for the Tigers.