CAMPBELLSBURG — Jackson Byrne hit the 'send' button on the fax machine to complete a dream.
Byrne, a two-time All-State lineman at West Washington, signed his name to the letter of intent on Wednesday, officially joining new head coach Curt Mallory's first recruiting class at Indiana State.
Byrne, who helped the Class A Senators post a 22-2 record during his two seasons as the fulcrum on the offensive line, was one of 24 new Sycamores to join the program. Indiana State went 4-7 last season.
"When I got to middle school, I never thought about playing football in college," Byrne said. "But once I realized it might happen, I set my mind to it. It really did become a dream for me. It opened up my eyes that I could do almost anything if I set my mind to it."
West Washington's running attack followed Byrne's lead. As as junior, he played guard, then moved to center as a senior. No matter where he started, WW coach Phillip Bowsman would utilize Byrne as the pulling blocker, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound snowplow clearing the way.
"I've always been the big kid and got stuck there," Byrne said of the line. "I loved playing it because you get to hit somebody on every play. You get to take out your anger on people, which is really fun."
But he's more than just a big body. Byrne, an Academic All-State selection, also plays basketball for the Senators. He's a two-sport athlete with amazing mobility for his size.
"He's a very dedicated player who is athletic and versatile," Bowsman said. "He has good feet, good hands, and he puts in the time."
"Playing basketball really helps," Byrne said. "I still lift in the offseason, but basketball keeps me running, and footwork is a big part of the game. And it helps me stay in shape."
Byrne transferred to West Washington from New Albany, which was certainly a culture shock, after his sophomore season. Now he'll make the adjustment from the rural life of Washington County to the college campus in Terre Haute.
His first priority will be bulking up, hoping to add another 15 pounds, for the battles in the trenches. And he won't be running off any added weight on the basketball court.
Indiana State, which competes in the Missouri Valley Conference, will travel to Knoxville to face SEC power Tennessee next season on Sept. 9. The Sycamores will open the 2017 season at home against Eastern Illinois on Aug. 31.
