Sept. 27, 2006

Prior to this season, his final season as a member of the Samford football team, defensive back T.C. Myers was named the recipient of the second-annual Charles Williams Memorial Jersey. The jersey, the number five, is chosen by the Samford coaching staff.

Then, Myers was named one of the team's four captains. The two awards are honors that Myers doesn't take lightly.

"It means a lot, but it is also a lot of pressure," Myers said. "Being a team captain and wearing the number five jersey, I've got to be a leader on and off the field. But, it is a real blessing and an honor to wear the number five."

Samford head coach Bill Gray said, for Myers, the honors are well-deserved.

"T.C. is a guy who epitomizes what Charles Williams stood for," Gray said. "He is exactly what we, as coaches, are looking for as a player. He is small in stature, but has as big a heart as anyone on the team."

Myers came to Samford from Pace High School in Pace, Fla. As a senior at Pace, Myers recorded 32 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also played on offense at Pace, catching 14 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Myers was named first-team All-Northwest Florida for his efforts.

"I had a great experience at Pace," Myers said. "We worked hard and I have friends I will always remember."

Myers said his team at Pace had to work hard to earn the respect of their opponents.

"No one really respected us, but we played tough," Myers said. "We beat all the teams in the Pensacola area and we reached the playoffs every year I was there. I'm blessed because being there brought me to Samford and it brought me some great friends."

When the time came to choose a college, Myers originally planned to stay close to home, but when he visited Samford he knew it was the place for him.

"At first, to be honest, I had planned to go to Florida A&M to be closer to my family," Myers said. "But when I came here on my visit, I saw the great atmosphere and the guys who were on my recruiting visit with me. I wanted to be a part of something I could help start."

Myers came to Samford in 2003, the Bulldogs' first season in the Ohio Valley Conference. Samford, picked eighth out of nine teams in the preseason, surprised everyone and finished third in the conference with a 5-3 league record.

As a freshman, Myers saw action in all 11 games for the Bulldogs. Myers tallied 18 tackles and one pass break-up on the season.

In Myers' sophomore season, he had 45 tackles, including 23 solo stops. He intercepted one pass and broke up four. Myers also forced a fumble and recovered one in 2004.

Last season, Myers had 44 tackles, 26 solo tackles and four tackles for a loss. Myers was also second on the team in kick returns, returning 12 kickoffs for an average of 23.7 yards per return.

In the first game of the 2006 season against Miles College, Myers registered two tackles and intercepted a pass, returning it 40 yards in the 37-7 win. For his senior season, Myers said he just wants to help his team win.

"I want to help this team win every game possible," Myers said. "We have the talent, I just want to be a leader and encourage the guys who are down and try to play my heart out and hopefully win a championship ring and go to the playoffs."

After his time at Samford is done, Myers would like to continue playing, but if that doesn't work out, he wants to go into education.

"If I don't continue playing ball, hopefully I can go to graduate school," Myers said. "I would like to be a guidance counselor at an elementary school."

Myers and his fellow captains, seniors Josh Brennard, Graham Lemmond and Freddy Young hope to lead Samford to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference in their final season in Samford uniforms.