BU’s Best Football Players Recognized
Before the 2022 season, the Bluefield University football team had trouble having a winning season. Winning was scarce for the Rams. In fact, just two years ago the Rams finished the season 2-7. That’s not the case now. This year, BU finished with an 8-3 record — the best football season in Bluefield history.
When you have an historic season like that, it typically comes from a team effort with lots of standout players. Six of those standout players for the Rams caught the eye of everyone in the state of Virginia. In fact, these six players have been recognized as one of the best at their position in the state and have been named to the Virginia Sports Information Directors College Division All-State Team. These six players are JaQuan Ebron, Nathan Herstich, Termaine Baker, Quincy Robinson, Jackson Charlton-Perrin and Sam Kirtley.
Ebron was a star receiver for the Rams. The fifth-year senior caught 60 passes for 1,022 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022.
“It feels good to be recognized for my hard work on the field,” Ebron said about receiving the All-State honor. “That goes to show that working in the dark comes to the light when you’re working to be great.”
Ebron said he spent lots of time training and working to become the football player he is today, and he hopes he will have a chance to play at the next level. He will be graduating this May and said he still has a lot to accomplish.
“I want to hit the professional league, no matter the level,” Ebron said. “My ultimate goal would be to go to the NFL. I’m destined to be great.”
Having Ebron on the team not only made BU better, but also made a lot of other players’ jobs easier, including Herstich, who made the All-State team at quarterback. A transfer from St. Cloud, Florida, Herstich threw for 3,183 yards and 33 touchdowns while averaging 289 yards per game through the air. Herstich said that a couple of keys to his success in football were starting to play at such a young age and playing in a state with a high level of competition.
“Since a kid and being from Florida football is taken seriously at all levels,” Herstich said. “That’s what drove me to be the best player that I could be, and that work ethic stuck with me still until this day.”
Because he’s just a sophomore, Herstich will be leading the Rams offense for years to come, and he said he has high expectations for himself and the team.
“I want to work harder than ever before and improve my game in every aspect and help my team compete for a championship this upcoming year,” Herstich said.
Baker, a junior from Norfolk, Virginia, is a three-year starter for the Rams and a two-time All-Conference left tackle. He was here when Bluefield football wasn’t as successful. Going from winning only two games to losing only three is a change Baker said he’s thankful for.
“When I first came here everybody was used to losing,” Baker said. “Losing was acceptable, and now it’s not. We’re learning to be winners.”
Baker added that there are a couple of things he still wants to accomplish at Bluefield, including becoming an All-American, the highest honor a player can receive.
“I want that to leave no doubt that I’m the best (at my position),” Baker said, “(and) I want to win a championship and bring Bluefield a ring.”
Ebron, Herstich and Baker led the Rams offense this season — an offense that finished the season ranked 15th in the nation in overall production. The offense also finished with the 10th-best passing attack with 3,243 yards and 35 touchdowns on the season, and 10th in rushing with 1,608 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Robinson, Charlton-Perrin and Kirtley led the BU defense, which finished the 2022 season ranked 15th in the nation with 13 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries and 25 sacks. Robinson, a sophomore transfer who also made All-Conference, led the defensive line 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, including 11 tackles for a loss. Robinson said he faced a few challenges when he first came to Bluefield, but made the adjustments he needed to succeed.
“The adjustments I had to make was learning a new defense and a whole new defensive system,” Robinson said. “I had to study the playbook and learn a lot of plays in a short time.”
Robinson said his success is also the result of “outworking everyone.” He said his work ethic is what got him this far, but he being successful o the field is not all he’s working hard at. He said he’s also focused on is getting his degree in the next year.
Charlton-Perrin is an All-Conference junior who had seven tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble on defense this year. He, too, is close to earning his degree, but wants to end his collegiate career with a bang.
“Over the years I have been able to transfer my aggression to my play on the field,” Charlton-Perrin said. “I believe the biggest change was becoming physical on the defensive line.”
Perrin has been a part of the BU football program for three years now, and earning All-State is his biggest accomplishment.
“I appreciate the recognition,” he said. “A lot goes into making plays on the field, and when it’s recognized it’s truly a blessing.”
Kirtley was the captain of the Rams defense. A linebacker, he led the Rams in total tackles with 88. He also had 3.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
“It’s a blessing to be seen as a good football player by coaches and players,” Kirtley said. “I was never the most athletic or skilled individual on the field at any given time. I had to put in a lot of hard work to get to where I am today, (including) going to work out at 4 a.m. when everyone else came in at 5 a.m.”
Kirtley, also an All-Conference player, said being a successful college athlete both on the field and in the classroom also takes discipline.
“The number one key to success as a collegiate athlete is similar to success in life,” he said, “and that is discipline. Going to class, being on time for things, not wasting time or a single rep in anything you do. It all matters and can lead to your ultimate success or failure.”