By Marty Kirkland
When Northwest Whitfield opens its football season at Southeast on Aug. 29, senior Dean Haynes will have a load of responsibility like never before in his career with the Bruins, starting at both quarterback and defensive back.
But he’ll no longer have the pressure of wondering whether or not he’ll meet his goal of becoming a Division I college football player.
Haynes committed to North Carolina State on Wednesday, taking the Wolfpack up on an offer to join them as a defensive back.
“I’m on cloud nine,” Haynes said. “I feel great because I don’t have any more worries, no more pressure and I got the scholarship I wanted. It just feels like all my work’s paid off.”
Among the factors that sold Haynes on N.C. State were the serious interest coaches showed in him after he attended a camp there in June. An offer was given from the Atlantic Coast Conference school last month and Haynes has made what he considers a solid commitment, although his word is non-binding per NCAA regulations.
“I don’t think other schools will back off, but it would take a lot to change my mind about N.C. State,” Haynes said. “I don’t think anybody really could change my mind.”
Auburn and Georgia had also shown interest, but not to the level of N.C. State — which went 5-7 last season, Tom O’Brien’s first as coach — said Haynes, who found himself attached to the Wolfpack after visiting Raleigh.
“They were the top school,” Haynes said. “As soon as I went to camp, I just fell in love with everything there. They pretty much blew everyone out of the water ... the facilities, the way they treated me, and I really liked (defensive backs coach Mike Reed), he was real cool. I just liked everything about it.”
Al-though Haynes saw an occasional series at quarterback as a backup in 2007, his first season at that position, he has been a major contributor to Northwest’s defense over the past two years, earning two straight selections to The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Football Team as a cornerback. During that time, Haynes has tallied 99 tackles and seven interceptions.
He had a game-opening 95-yard kickoff return last year during a loss to Tucker in the second round of the Georgia High School Association’s Class 4A playoffs.
In more than one way, he has been useful to the Bruins in earning two straight postseason appearances.
“In terms of versatility, he’s in the top four or five that I’ve coached, certainly the top echelon,” said Northwest’s Mike Falleur, who has been a head coach since 1992 and is preparing for his seventh season at Northwest.
“He brings so many things to the table that a lot of us can’t do.”
Falleur believes the speedy Haynes — also a track and field standout — will continue to be a versatile player in college.
“I think Dean’s one of those guys that can play a lot of positions in college,” Falleur said. “Corner, safety and if he gets bigger, even outside linebacker, because he’s very physical.
“He runs and catches the ball really well, but they’re recruiting him as a cornerback. I think he’ll do a great job for N.C. State. Dean is one of the best open-field tacklers I’ve ever coached.”
Haynes said he’s confident about his ability to handle two positions this season for the Bruins, who practiced in full pads for the first time on Wednesday. The first day of official practice for GHSA teams was this past Friday, but teams were restricted to helmets and shorts for the early workouts.
“So far, it’s been going great,” Haynes said. “We’ve improved a lot since day one and I’m really looking forward to the new season and the new region.”
