Galloway signs with Guilford College

WALNUT COVE — South Stokes’ Dezmond Galloway signed his letter-of-intent to play football at Guilford College after seriously considering Brevard College and Methodist University.

“I’m very thankful, beyond thankful, glad for everyone that came out and the Lord of God blessed me with what I was looking for,” said the senior. “Guilford is 30 minutes away and they acted like they wanted me a lot.

“The campus is close enough if people want to come watch me play, it will be easy for them to come. I thought the campus was very nice and they made me feel like I was home.”

Galloway helped the Sauras to the state playoffs in each of the last three seasons. He was a four-year varsity letterman and had a career 170 tackles, including 92 during his senior season with two interceptions.

“Dez has always had grit and heart,” noted Sauras’ coach Justin Rogers. “During the All-Conference meeting I mentioned to the other coaches how he never stops, he has a motor, and it doesn’t matter if a running back has already passed him, he is going to keep digging until the play is over. It’s going to be extremely hard for someone to fill those shoes. He is just a tough kid, but he set a good example for the players to follow.

“I think it’s a tough transition to play college football, but Dez will make his impact at Guilford. There are going to be tough times, but Dez is motivated enough to work through those times. Like I said, he had heart, and he is a foundational guy. He has the tools to be successful.”

Galloway has plans to do something with sports medicine, maybe physical therapy. Along with football, Dez played baseball for a couple of years and participated in field events on the track team.

Galloway is the son of Jewell Craig and step-father Justin Ingold, and father Scoota Galloway of Walnut Cove.

“I am head over heels, over the top, so proud of Dezmond,” said his mother, Jewell. “I’m a ball of energy right now, I want to cry, I’m nervous because he is about to graduate, it’s just an emotional time.

“We loved the school, it was so beautiful, and it was close to home. That was important to us. Guilford just really stood out to us, and we are so happy Dezmond chose them.”

Guilford College is a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and competes at the NCAA Division III level.