Northgate's Facyson commits to play football at Virginia Tech
By DOUG GORMAN
dgorman@newnan.com
Northgate senior Brandon Facyson is looking forward to his final season of high school football.
He should be able to relax a little bit in the process.
Facyson made his decision over the weekend after attending a football camp on the Blacksburg campus.
His visit was filled with plenty of drama after spending part of the day on Saturday in the emergency room. Facyson was sent to the hospital briefly after being diagnosed with an abscess in his throat which made it difficult to swallow. He was treated with antibiotics and allowed to return to the camp.
Saturday night, he made his non-binding verbal commitment to the Hokies.
"I am feeling fine now," he said. "I got back home on Monday and am back to normal."
The Northgate football player choose Virginia Tech over at least 20 other Division I schools, including ACC-rival Georgia Tech.
Facyson was first offered a scholarship at Virginia Tech last July and says he never really thought about going anywhere else despite all the other offers. Beamer was so impressed that he even sent Northgate High head football coach Tommy Walburn a text message while Facyson was attending a camp in Blacksburg in 2011.
He'll join former Newnan High standout Sergio Render in local players that went on to play at the school. Render went on to become a two-time, Second Team All-ACC selection.
"The coaches at Virginia Tech showed me so much love," he said. "It's like a family there."
Although Facyson plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage in high school, the Hokies recruited him to play cornerback.
"It is sort of Cornerback-U at Virginia Tech," he said. "It's just a place where I really want to go."
With his 6-foot, 2-inch, 183-pound frame, it is a position he has literally grown into the past three years.
"I have worked hard and have had some really good coaches that have helped me turn into the football player that I am today," he said. "I am really comfortable playing the position now."
Facyson's father, Fredric, is excited about his son's senior year and his bright future at the next level.
"He really wanted to get this out of the way," he said. "His goal now is to put all his concentration into is senior year at Northgate. Most of the defense is coming back, so it could be a really special year. The coaching staff at Northgate has just done a fabulous job the past few years."
The Vikings rising senior knows there might be a bullseye on the back of Northgate jerseys this year.
Last season, the Vikings enjoyed perhaps their best season ever, posting an 11-1 overall record, winning a region title and also going two rounds into the playoffs in head coach Tommy Walburn's second season.
Gone from last year's team are bunch of talented players including running backs and Coweta County Co-Offenseive Players of the Year Alex Lakes and Payton Usher, but Facyson knows there is plenty of talent coming back.
"We have guys who are really ready to step up and keep all of this success going," he said
With a 3.9 grade point average, Facyson is also getting things done in the classroom. The National Honor Society Student and member of the Beta Club plans on studying pre-med with the hopes of becoming a doctor once his playing days on the football field are over.
Verbal commitments are non-binding until February when college football players officially sign their letter-of-intent, so Facyson knows the recruiting game isn't over just yet.
Facyson is the fourth player from Coweta County, and third from Northgate, to verbally commit to a Division I school. Viking teammate DeAndre Johnson and Newnan's Tray Mathews appear headed to the University of Georgia after giving verbal commitments to Bulldog coach Mark Richt. Teammate Sean Spencer, a senior defensive end, also committed to Vanderbilt this summer.
"I think other schools will still try and come after me, but nothing is going to change my mind," Facyson said. "I am going to Virginia Tech."
