Pickens High School senior Dalton Yates signed last Thursday to play football at Limestone College. Pictured, standing, from left, are Pickens assistant coach Mike Gravely, Wanda Rollins, former Pickens coach Chad Seaborn and Pickens principal Marion Lawson. Seated are Jackie Hooper, Yates and Joey Hooper.

PICKENS — Pickens High School linebacker Dalton Yates signed to play his college ball with Limestone College on Thursday.

Yates told the Courier it has been his life-long dream to play football at the next level.

“I have always dreamed of playing college football since I was young,” he said. “Now I get to fulfill those dreams.”

Yates praised his family and coaches for helping him on his journey.

“My parents have always supported me,” he said. “I think they are just as excited about it as I am,” he added.

The outstanding linebacker toured a few other colleges but said there was just something about Limestone that I liked and that made it a good fit for him. “It is a small school but has a great campus. The coaching staff there is just great, he added. Yates also plans to do whatever it takes to contribute to the program and is willing to play anywhere he is asked on the field in the process. “I would like to play inside or outside linebacker, but I will play anywhere they want me to play,” he added.

His position coach, Mike Gravely thinks he is ready and will make an impact quickly. “He is a great kid with a great attitude. He has a real good motor, which every linebacker should have. He flies to the ball. He makes a lot of tackles,” Gravely said. “There were several games where he made over 20 tackles last season. He is one of the best linebackers I have ever coached at Pickens High over the last 35 years and I have been through a lot of linebackers,” Gravely added.

Former Pickens head football coach Chad Seaborn also has high praise the young man, that he watched mature before his eyes. “I am very proud of Dalton. We saw him starting out in the eighth grade with us and was able to watch him grow, not only physically, but into a fine young man. Limestone is getting a great player. He loves football and I am very proud of him,” Seaborn said.

“High school football teaches a lot and he has learned a lot over the past several years. So many kids and goals and dream of these type things and to see a kid that want to continue to play put in the effort and the work and then get rewarded for all that. I know he will represent Pickens High School in a great way. I can’t wait to keep up with him and see all the great things he does at Limestone,” Seaborn concluded.