Warner Robins’ Callaway officially joins Tennessee
All dressed up, Marquez Callaway was excited.
He sat at a table in the Warner Robins cafeteria surrounded by family and in front of dozens of teammates, classmates, coaches and friends.
And just smiled, soaking it all in. He almost forgot the point of the gathering, to sign a letter.
Callaway realized as much and then signed his national letter-of-intent to playat Tennessee, moments after teammate Ivan Corbin signed his letter with Limestone, a Division II program in South Carolina.
Then the two were surrounded by teammates and classmates for a photo session with all the noise and silliness expected for such a happy occasion.
“I look at this as a celebration and as a reward,” said recently retired head coach Bryan Way in his final signing day ceremony. “They get to further their playing career. More importantly, somebody’s going to pay for their education in the process. That’s what it’s all about.”
Corbin completed 50.8 percent of his passes last season for 927 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was a little taken aback at how full the portion of the cafeteria that hosted the event was.
“I didn’t picture how many people came,” said the two-year starting quarterback, who picked Limestone over The Citadel on Sunday. “We had to give out passes. I gave out like 20, and Quez gave out like 30. People came in.
“It feels good. I’ve been waiting on this day a long time.”
As has Callaway, who emerged seriously as a prospect late in his sophomore season.
“He got on everybody else’s radar in the playoffs his sophomore year when he played really well and kind of opened everybody’s eyes,” Way said. “You don’t have to be a great judge of talent to pick guys out like him.”
Callaway committed to Tennessee less than two weeks before signing day, and the two-sport standout then canceled visits to Mississippi and Mississippi State.
“I had a feeling, once I’d been to all the schools I’d been to,” Callaway said. “They’re all different, and they’re all the same. they all kind of have the same stuff, some kinds of people. Some are outgoing, some keep to themselves.
“At Tennessee, it was just something I could relate to. That’s probably why I chose them. I could relate to them.”
Callaway visited scores of schools unofficially, but Tennessee was his only official visit.
Callaway has been a two-way player at Warner Robins but joins the Volunteers as a wide receiver. He caught 34 passes for 526 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Adjusting to one position isn’t quite enough.
“I’m gonna try to do basketball at Tennessee,” he said. “I’m gonna try do that.”
Callaway would be undergoing this process for basketball if his football ceiling wasn’t so high, so he’ll try both. For now, however, he’s focused on his current basketball team, which has been a major postseason player in recent years and finished with a perfect GHSA Region 2-AAAAA record.
The Demons were able to win even when Callaway was on the road.
“That was a hurtful part, not being with my team,” he said. “I think I let them down the most. I’m glad they won.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Warner Robins’ Callaway officially joins Tennessee."