Pridgen signs NLI with UNC Pembroke

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on June 15, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

Dayshawn Pridgen waited.

He waited through his senior and Shrine Bowl practices.

He waited all winter and during the spring football signing window.

Now, six weeks before college football training camps begin, Pridgen doesn't have to wait any longer. The Eastern Wayne senior signed a national letter-of-intent to play football as a preferred walk-on this fall at UNC Pembroke.

"I'm blessed to just have a chance to continue playing," Pridgen said. "It did come late, but I really don't care. Better late than never."

The signing ended a frustrating era for Pridgen. Despite being ranked along North Carolina's top recruits, he could not find a home to play football on Saturdays for the next four years. The signing marked a special -- albeit bittersweet -- moment for him.

"My mom passed away recently, and this was something she wanted for me," he said. "I wanted it too, but at the same time, it was our dream and it was something we were going to do together."

Pridgen signed with the Braves, who finished 2-8 last season. A two-way starter at Eastern Wayne, Pridgen will play offense only as a slot receiver for UNCP.

"There's not really one I prefer over the other," he said. "I think they recruited me as a receiver so I can make people miss."

The Braves could certainly use his playmaking ability. This past season, UNCP averaged only 12.2 points and 141 passing yards per game. Their top receiver averaged just 40 yards per game and they only had one player catch multiple touchdowns on the year.

"I still don't know how much they'll expect me to play (my freshman year)," he said. "I probably won't know much more about that until I get out on the field."

Smaller in stature, Pridgen knows that there will be some physical adjustments that he'll need to make in order to succeed on the next level. His coaches at UNCP have already put him on a weight-lifting regime, and he's looking to put on 20 pounds or so.

The more challenging adjustment, however, will come off the field. Transitioning from high school to college is a strenuous test in time management, a challenge amplified for student-athletes.

"I'm ready to get adjusted and used to the schedule," he said. "Things are going to be different. It's going to be better people, better players. I just want to get into a rhythm and find my role on the team.

"Managing everything is probably going to be the hardest part. You have to go to classes and practices and meetings."

Pridgen has been in contact with coaches about how to handle the workload, though, and is looking forward to putting on that Braves uniform come Aug. 10th.

"I think it's going to really hit me when I actually step on the field," he said. "When I'm playing in the games."