Cameron Giles was dealt a tough hand his senior year.
The recent Southmont graduate had two goals in mind heading into his final football campaign: elevate his game in order to play at the next level, and break the school record for most rushing yards in a season.
Giles will head to Wabash this fall, but what prevented him from breaking the rushing record is one of the many reasons he will look to succeed on the gridiron for the Little Giants.
“The goal I set for myself at the start of last year’s season was to break the school record of most running yards in a season,” he said. “However, due to injuries, I had to step up to the quarterback position early last season. It was hard to let go of my goal, but the change definitely helped me grow as a football player. I learned many things playing QB, but my biggest gain was learning so much more about reading defenses. I will continue to benefit from this knowledge as I continue to grow as a running back at Wabash.”
The goal of playing college football has been a lifelong dream.
“I grew up in a football-oriented household so I have loved it since I was a little kid,” Giles added. “I started playing in kindergarten, and playing college football has always been a dream of mine.”
And Wabash is the perfect fit both for football and academics.
“Choosing the right college was very serious for me,” Giles said. “Not only was I choosing my life for the next four years, the impact would be felt for all of my life after. Hands down, Wabash will allow me to have the most successful life after college. When you combine the tremendous degree with a very successful football program, my choice was obvious. I wanted to be a part of the tradition and I know it is the perfect fit.”
Giles will study Chemistry and plans to play running back, something he feels Southmont football has helped him work toward.
“Coach Hannum has definitely helped to prepare me for college football at Wabash,” he said. “He always held me to the highest standard on and off the field. He always pushed me to be better mentally and physically. Whether in the weight room, on the field, or in life, coach Hannum was always challenging me to grow. I could not have had a better person guiding me towards life as a college athlete.”
Giles also hopes his competitiveness and underdog spirit will help set him apart as a Little Giant.
“Obviously, I need to keep working hard and always improving physically but my underdog mentality has always set me apart. I am incredibly competitive. Keeping that same energy will be crucial to my success at Wabash.”
