Dexter, Missouri – Peyton Pollock will wear a Bearcat uniform again next year, but not for DHS. He will change his colors from red/black to the purple/white Bearcat jersey at Southwest Baptist University.
Pollock signed a letter of intent today for football with Southwest Baptist University Bearcats! Head Football Coach Craig Schuler announced today that the 6’2” senior would become a SBU Bearcat athlete.
"I am super excited for Peyton," commented head football coach Justin Peden. "It is a great opportunity for him and it is a good school. I am proud of what he has accomplished."
"It is always a neat thing as a coach to see a kid go on to the next level and play," continued Peden. "Peyton is a true athlete. he will do well and he may play multiple positions at SBU. He is very coachable and works hard. Anywhere he may play I believe he will be successful. I am glad to have been involved in Peyton's life at Dexter High School."
Shown in the photo are Pollock’s parents, Monta and Dan Pollock seated with him, Dexter head football coach Justin Peden and Dexter assistant football coach Brice Beck standing.
Pollock performed for the Bearcats as their quarterback for the 2013 and 2014 football seasons.
In the 2013 season as a junior he completed 86 passes for 1,360 yards including 10 touchdowns. He carried the ball 110 times rushing for 504 yards including one touchdown. His total yardage was 1,864 yards with a total of 11 touchdowns. He did miss two games during the regular 2013 season with a mild injury.
He was named to the All-Region Football Team and Honorable Mention SEMO All-Conference in 2013.
In the 2014 season as a senior he completed 130 passes for 1,572 yards including 13 touchdowns. Pollock carried the ball 142 times rushing for 730 yards including 8 touchdowns. His total yardage was 2,302 with 21 touchdowns.
Pollock was named 2014 Media All-Region Second Team Offense as quarterback. He was named the 2014 First Team All-Conference and 2014 Offensive Player of the Year for Conference. At the Dexter Fall Sports Banquet he received the 2014 Most Valuable Back/Skilled Position Award.
He was a member of the Dexter Bearcats football team his junior and senior year and has played football all four years of high school. Prior to moving to Dexter he played football at Crystal City, Missouri. He has also played baseball three years and basketball all four years. He is an active member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Teachers of America, FCCLA, Pep Club, Dexter Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Peyton also attended Missouri Boys State.
When asked why he wanted to attend Southwest Baptist University, Peyton said, "My parents went to SBU and I went there and just loved the coaches. It's a great area. I visited in July and fell off for a little bit and then got back on track and I knew then that's where I wanted to go!"
Peyton's older brother Cody Pollock is a Division One Football Player for the Southern Illinois University Salukis. It's in his blood to play football coming from a long lineage of football players.
"My brother told me that it would be the toughest thing I had ever done in my life," Peyton said of transitioning from high school athletes to college football. "I have always wanted a challenge and I have always looked up to him and my father. They both played college football and I wanted to do that some day."
"I was six when I first played organized football and I grew up playing the sport. My Grandpa, Dad, and brother all played and it was a dream of mine to play college ball too."
When asked what was the happiest memory of his high school football career Peyton said with a big grin, "The happiest moment in my football career was when we beat Sikeston! Dexter doesn't beat Sikeston very often and it was just a great moment."
Pollock plans to major in Education and perhaps someday become a high school or even a college coach. Southwest Baptist University is an excellent school and Pollock may start out as a linbacker, something he hasn't done since his sophomore year, so it a relatively new position, but he is up to the challenge and looks forward to his college days as a Bearcat!
Southwest Baptist University is an exceptional four-year college offering a great athletic program. They currently compete in the NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. SBU is committed to being Christ-centered in every facet of the university life and students are free to express Christian faith and values in the classroom.
Congratulations Peyton! The Dexter community is extremely proud of your accomplishments and we look forward to seeing you in a Bearcat uniform next year. On behalf of the ShowMe Times it has been a pleasure to watch you play during your high school career. Good luck with your future endeavors and we'll see you on the field!!
