Two-Sport Athlete Works His Way To State Championships And College Scholarship

MADISON- Madison Academy student-athlete John English is a go getter. He’s an All-Star football player, a state champ in track and field, carries a 3.71 grade point average in the classroom, and, if that’s not enough, he also works an average of 20 hours a week in his attempt to put money away for college.

“Partaking in two sports has been very tough on me as many times it’s been difficult to get my school work completed,” said English. “My parents have been very strict on making sure my school work does not suffer. I appreciate their leadership.”

The senior for the Mustangs was a two-way starter for the football team playing defensive end and tight end. He recently signed a partial athletic scholarship with Berry College of Rome, Ga. where he was recruited to play defensive end for the NCAA Div. III program. “I chose Berry due to the connection I instantly had with the coaches,” said English, son of Bo and Adrienne English.

The talents of the 6-foot-2, 220-pound athlete have crossed over to track and field where he recently won his second consecutive Indoor Track Shot Put State Championship. His gold medal performance of 48-feet, .75-inch was the lone first place performance by the four local schools of the Madison area.

“I love the shot put and I feel it’s very difficult to master,” said English. “It’s all in the technique more than physical strength. With each day I throw I feel as I’m getting closer to mastering the shot out.”

Many think he may have already conquered the beast.

This school year is the first at Madison Academy for English as he and his family moved to Madison from Hazel Green where he played both football and participated in track for the Trojans. Last year as a junior, English won the same Indoor Track State Championship with his personal best throw of 50-feet, 1.5-inches. “My head coach at Hazel Green convinced me to try the shot put as the event would help my explosiveness and movement with my hips and legs for my play as a defensive lineman,” added English. “I have a good explosiveness off the line and have caused a lot of quarterback hurries and sacks. I feel I’m strong enough and have the correct technique to push back offensive linemen.”

As a senior at Madison Academy he was a team captain and had enormous growth in the weight room. He has topped out at 295 pounds on the bench press and 450 pounds in the squat. His foot speed is also exceptional as he’s been clocked at 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard sprint.

Nicknamed “Big John” by the Mustang’s coaching staff, English has always been a large individual and was usually the biggest kid on his block and was mostly chosen first for pickup games while growing up. He played recreational football, baseball and basketball as a youngster before deciding on mostly football when entering school athletics.

“I’ve always suffered from asthma, but that is not as bad as it once was,” said English. “I also injured my shoulder playing football, but that healed after going through extensive physical therapy.”

English would love nothing more than earn his college degree in mechanical engineering. He’s working as a cashier and stocker at Dollar General located on Old Madison Pike near Slaughter Road. Not only is the money helping him prep for college, but he knows working makes him more responsible as a young adult. The 18-year old doesn’t want to stop with what he has now, especially in athletics.

I’m looking now for the outdoor track season and let’s see what I can do there,” added English, who also throws the discus for the Mustangs. “Once I enter the circle for the shot put I cancel out all distractions and concentrate. I have this technique where I move back my left foot back three times before I throw. The foot placement seems to help me with my power and also relaxes me.”

He drives a 2004 Jeep Cherokee and can always be seen driving into and out of the confines of the Madison Academy campus, or the parking lot of Dollar General. Both locales are building a stronger, more productive young man who can arrange his life with multiple schedules and be successful at each one.