Eagles' Brunson headed to Guilford

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on March 17, 2006 1:47 PM

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In recent years, some of Rosewood High's most gifted offensive football players have went on to play collegiate football at Division III Guilford College.

In the fall of 2006, the Quakers will get one of the best defensive athletes to ever wear the Eagles' purple and gold -- Markas Brunson.

Brunson (6 feet, 233 pounds) will join former Rosewood teammates quarterback Danny Langston and offensive lineman Troy Smith on the Quakers' roster. Eagles' head coach Daniel Barrow and assistant coach Josh Smith are also Guilford grads.

"Two of my coaches went to Guilford, and Danny and Troy go to Guilford," Brunson said. "I'm leaving home, but going to Guilford feels like it will be easy to become another home."

Brunson, appropriately nicknamed "the headache," put up stellar numbers from his defensive end position as a three-year starter for Rosewood.

Under the direction of defensive line coach Tom Tipton, Brunson finished with 295 tackles and 29 sacks, 14 coming in a senior year that saw him earn team MVP, first-team News-Argus All-Area and All-Carolina Conference honors.

Brunson, who may move to linebacker in college, also blocked six kicks over his career.

"I was raw when I was a freshman, but over the years I was able to gain some respect, and they put me in a position to make an impact," Brunson said. "I worked on my technique at defensive end. Guilford may transfer me to linebacker, so I've got to work that much harder to get better at that position."

Wherever he plays, which may include fullback, Guilford coach Kevin Kiesel, who went 5-5 his first year with the Quakers, is obviously pleased to have landed a player of Brunson's caliber.

"Markas Brunson is a tremendous young man that will be a great asset to Guilford College," Kiesel said in a prepared statement. "I'm very happy to have the ability to attract such a top quality person, sttudent and football player. He's a versatile player that will help us at defensive end, linebacker or fullback."

Brunson admits that eventually transferring to a larger college may not be out of the question, but he also said, "I"m focused on what I'm trying to do at Guilford."

He plans on majoring in sports medicine, then getting his master's degree in physical therapy.

The son of Thomas and Gloria Brunson, Markas has obviously left a positive mark on the Eagles' program.

"He's a great representative of the program. He's well-mannered and a great staudent." Barrow said. "He's led the way for the younger guys. When your leaders and captains are good students, good citizens and good football players, that's a pretty good role model."