Furman University got itself a quarterback all tied up in a neat 6-foot-3, 200-pound package today when Greer High School’s Reese Hannon, a finalist for Mr. Football, signed his letter-of-intent to play for the Paladins.
Hannon committed to Furman midway in his senior season and never wavered. That was evident when his mother, Linda, gave him a 4-foot purple Christmas tree adorned with purple and white balls. “I had a Furman helmet on top of the tree,” Hannon said with a wide grin.
“He’s the pure example what a student-athlete should be. I’m looking forward to seeing him play on Saturdays next year,” Greer Head Football Coach Will Young said. There was little more Young could say that he hadn’t already said all year. “He’s the type of person you would like your son be.”
Hannon retained his No. 2 ranking in the Class of 2012. His leadership skills were so evident, Young would often end practice and walk away saying, “Reese, break ‘em down.”
Hannon signed with the media authenticating the event. His father co-signed and the deal was done.
Reporters and cameras surrounded Hannon with questions being peppered to him like why he choose Furman. “Because everything I have seen at Furman, athletically and academically, is the perfect fit for me.”
Did he expect to be a starter his freshman year now that Furman starting quarterback Chris Forcier was graduating? “I’m going in and work as hard as I always do.”
Watching Hannon, sitting a table with a Greer and Furman football helmet, flanking him, was Greer offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jay Abercrombie. “I’m happy for him. All of his hard work has come to fruition today,” Abercrombie said.
Abercrombie has been Hannon’s position coach since before he came to the varsity. “You want to make sure he is as prepared as the next guy with his new class. Now, that he’s out of my hands I’m sure he’ll do exactly what he has done in the past as he prepares going to the next step,” Abercrombie said.
Hannon passed for 2,165 yards and 19 touchdowns plus ran for 521 yards and 4 TDs this year. He was named to the North All-Star team. He passed for two TDs in the North’s win over the South.
Hannon’s legacy at Greer, as much as his statistics running and passing, will be the way he took the Yellow Jackets under his command. “Without a doubt, his leadership ability will be missed,” Abercrombie said. “You can ask his teammates about his leadership from the Clinton and the Blue Ridge games and they will tell you.” Both of those games were all but written in the loss column until Hannon worked his magic to bring Greer back for victories. “Reese ‘got it’ in the second semester of his junior year and you could see his leadership begin to come forward. He did a great job last season.”
Ben Hannon, Reese’s father, wore a purple vest to the signing. He said his wardrobe is almost one-dimensional. “I’ve got a closet full of purple,” Ben said.
Ben has coached former Greer football players who have signed to play football. Today was a little different. “It’s a wonderful thing to see (Reese) reach this goal in his life,” Ben said.
Young, enjoying the attention Hannon was getting, reflected on the player’s impact. “Reese made coaching fun. You knew he was going to do the right thing all the time.”