Will Ashley signs with Co-Lin

Courtesy of The Magee Courier

Will Ashley, a senior at Simpson Academy , is a big boy. He made a name for himself on the gridiron as a lineman, and the result was a scholarship offer for Copiah Lincoln Community College . Ashley signed his agreement last week. Ashley is 6'4" and a little more, and he weighs in at 250, plus or minus, depending on the season. He weighs 20 pounds less now than during football season, thinning down some for basketball season. Ashley is the rare athlete with the size to play the line in football and the quickness to play the big man position in basketball. He was all district in football. Since his basketball season has ended, Ashley will be back in the football weight room very soon. Ashley expects to play line in college for Co-Lin, and he has been told they are going to put some more weight on him. Coach Billy Wayne Hankins said Ashley can expect to gain about 50 pounds more, which will put him at over 300 pounds. Hankins says he will need it to play at the next level, at the offensive line, where Will thinks he will play, or the defensive line. He prefers to play either tackle or guard. Ashley came to Simpson Academy as a freshman, prior to that he was home-schooled by parents Bebe and Ty Ashley. As a career, Ashley hopes to earn a BSN in nursing and become a nurse anesthesist. He will leave Simpson Academy with a 3.85 gpa and a 27 ACT score. Hankins said, "We are always happy for any of our student athletes to be able to sign college scholarships. We are especially proud of Will because not only has he excelled not only on the field, but in the classroom. We expect him to not only be successful in football, but academically as well."

Photo above seated, from left: Ty Ashley, Will Ashley, Bebe Ashley. Rear, Coach and Athletic Director Billy Wayne Hankins.