Opportunity knocks for SE’s Pratt

Published 11:03 pm Friday, April 11, 2008

Southeast’s Caleb Pratt thought his football career had ended.

That is, until the University of the Cumberlands telephoned him.

On Friday, Pratt, a 6-foot, 210-pound fullback/linebacker, signed a financial aid package that enables him to continue as a student-athlete with the Patriots.

“I really wasn’t planning on playing football until they contacted me,” Pratt said just prior to his signing part in the Southeast media center. “I was just planning on going to school somewhere, probably just stay around here. But I thought I would give football another chance.”

As a bonus, Pratt’s girlfriend, Lynette Lebron, will also attend Cumberlands and be a member of the cheerleading squad.

Pratt was the Raiders’ third-leading tackler in 2007 with 47 stops behind Isaac Carreon (68) and Zach Sneed (65).

As the Raiders’ blocking fullback, Pratt helped clear the way for tailback Trea Williams, the area’s leading rusher with 1,245 yards during the regular season. Williams dominated Southeast’s ground game, rushing 245 times and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He scored 12 rushing touhdowns.

Pratt rushed 32 times for 286 yards, an 8.9-yard average, and scored three times as the Raiders went 1-8 last season.

Patriots coaches have told Pratt he’s likely to play on offense at the Cumberlands, an NAIA Division I team that competes in the Mid-South Conference.

“They talked about me playing the H back,” Pratt said. “At that position I’d be blocking, running and catching.”

Southeast’s offensive coordinator Bill Napier is familiar with Cumberlands’ offense, which is similar to the option attack that Paul Johnson has brought to Georgia Tech.

“Caleb is a versatile athlete with speed, quickness and strength,” Napier said. “You have to be versatile to play halfback in that offense, so it fits Caleb and he fits the offense. It’s good for him and Cumberlands.”

Pratt said he has visited the Cumberlands’ campus in Williamsburg, Ky., “two or three times,” but not when the Patriots were playing.

“They’ve got a good tradition and the financial aid package is good,” he said. “I really like the school and I’ll get a good education up there. And their team wins.”

The Patriots (8-3), coached by John Bland, reached the national playoffs in 2007.