Eagles' football standouts sign to play in college

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on June 1, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

Each fall at Rosewood High, a few key principles gather under the wash of its Friday night lights.

Community.

Diligence. Integrity.

These forces -- building blocks, rather -- aren't cute slogans silk-screened on the backs of fundraising T-shirts, nor are they tag lines casually tossed about during a board meeting.

They live and take on a life of their own. They don varsity purple and gold, and cycle in distinct four-year terms. They are program pillars that actually mean something.

On Tuesday, those tenets stood out again in the form of three athletes -- each as different as the positions they played -- who signed national letters-of-intent to play collegiate football.

Adam Henn, a bruising offensive lineman, will continue his career at Greensboro College. Mike Woodard and Marquail "Red" Al-montaser, both gifted position players, will matriculate to St. Andrews University in Laurinburg this fall.

And to a man, they'll take plenty of Rosewood with them.

Henn's varsity body-of-work was scripted along the offensive line, where anonymity is a player's highest compliment. Move cleanly, block well and pick up those around you -- that's life for a center in the trenches.

Mastery of those concepts takes a mixture of humility and intelligence, something the future athletic training major knows will be necessary for him to gain significant playing time at the next level.

"I enjoy what I do, and I'm good without my name being out there all the time," the senior said. "If his (a teammate's) name is showing, that means I've done my job."

That's the community way of Rosewood sports -- we, not me.

Woodard, on the other hand, endured a more high-profile existence over the course of his prep career. The speedster scored 46 touchdowns and piled up roughly 3,000 yards in two seasons for the Eagles.

He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

The Knight-to-be was also a workhorse, as evidenced by his 425 carries over 26 games for the Eagles -- a high-volume number that would make many a player ecstatic.

But life as the featured back isn't always glorious. It can be a between-the-tackles, pressure-packed job that comes with scrutiny around every corner -- even one filled with underclassmen.

"Everyone's opinion on the team matters," Woodard said, "and if a younger guy sees something I'm doing wrong, I like them to tell me that."

"Most people can't take that, but that's not us."

It makes sense for Woodard, whose interests range from chemistry to forensics, to speak of his role that way. After all, any running back worth his jersey number will admit their success lies in the tiniest slivers of daylight.

And finding such is the diligent way of Rosewood sports. Us, not them, searching for answers together --and being honest to a fault.

Al-montaser, perhaps the most electric of the trio, will have many ways to fit in while studying athletic science at St. Andrews. Just ponder his exhaustive prep resume.

Time spent mastering the route tree, check.

Time outside the numbers, check.

Time spent returning kicks -- and making them as well -- double check.

But beyond the glossy style -- which included 20 touchdowns, 1,200 receiving yards and a host of highlight-reel moves over the course of his career -- there is also substance.

It speaks to the integrity model of Rosewood sports, a brothers-in-arms code built to last, and outlast, one's playing days.

"Once you're on the team, you're family. And you can't break that bond," Al-montaser noted, "it's unstoppable... he (teammate) goes to that school, he's still going to be my best friend."

Three different athletes. Three different roles. Three vastly different skill sets designed to assist others through honest hard work.

Steeped in the Rosewood way, this three-man community undoubtedly will.