Darius Slayton, wide receiver for Greater Atlanta Christian, accumulated 804 yards and seven touchdowns on just 25 receptions during the regular season. He also had an interception and 14 tackles to go along with his great offensive numbers.
His play on both sides of the ball helped GAC reach the playoffs this year after going 9-1 in the regular season. The Spartans fell to Calhoun in a heartbreaking 31-30 loss in Round 2.
Slayton already has a number of offers from institutions at the next level including Duke, Illinois, Northwestern, Louisiana-Lafayette and Boston College. After recent visits to Vanderbilt and Georgia, Slayton was immediately given an offer for a scholarship by both programs.
Most kids use their summers to relax and get ready for the upcoming school year, but Slayton couldn’t wait to keep competing. He attended camps and was looking to see how he stacked up against other players his age.
“I went to Auburn and Vandy for camps this summer,” Slayton explained. “I liked Vandy because the QBs were good and threw good balls. Also the camp was really well organized and competitive.”
Slayton doesn’t stop competing once the football season is over. He doesn’t just sit around waiting for camps in the summer, but instead also runs track for GAC in the spring. Last year he won the state title in Class AA for the 100m and 200m races. When he has free time he plays basketball with his friends, which is surely an ultra-competitive affair.
Obviously the one word that should be used to describe Slayton is competitor. He’s worked hard to help his team compete in the playoffs, and he’s also working hard to make sure he can compete for a spot on a D-I roster. Regardless of where he ends up going to school, he’s going to bring an energy and competitive nature that will elevate the play of that team and ultimately bring the team more success for years to come.