By By Chandler Myers
Making a tackle can be a tough job for a football player. Making mulitiple tackles in a game is an even tougher job, but making 144 tackles in a single season is something most football players dream about.
For Escambia Academy Cougars linebacker Cameron “Cowboy” McGhee earning 144 tackles was all about “fun” and acting “crazy.”
McGhee’s success on the field for the Cougar defense has earned him The Atmore Advance’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
The bull-riding linebacker was one of the reasons that the Cougars were able to bounce back from a winless season to a run for the state championship.
What makes McGhee’s defensive totals so impressive is his ability to play so hard on both sides of the ball.
McGhee finished the 2009 season with 144 tackles, while rushing 94 times for 602 yards and 14 touchdowns.
McGhee said earning the defensive honor is something that he never thought about.
McGhee’s performance on the field not only impressed himself, but his coaches as well.
His head coach Heath Gibson said that McGhee’s defensive prowess is just plain good.
For McGhee, he just gets on the field with one thing in mind, to get the player with the ball.
McGhee said he goes out there with the attitude that he has no allies on the field.
Competing in rodeos is something that has made McGhee tough as nails.
For his size, he is smaller than most linebackers, but is never scared to hit someone.
Gibson said his senior linebacker plays every play at 110 percent.
McGhee remembers the performances he put up that lead to his 144 tackles.
He said his thinks his best game came on a road trip to Patrician.
When it came to playing hard, McGhee focused on having fun and making sure he took advantage of every opportunity he received.
He said that he plays like he will never play again, but remembers that football is a game not a job.