CALHOUN, Ga. — Emaree Winston has known for a year where the next phase of his life will take him.
There was a time, though, when the Calhoun High School senior tight end wasn’t sure if he would play another down this season.
Moments after the last photo was snapped and the final hug given Wednesday afternoon following Winston’s signing ceremony with the University of Texas on the first day of college football’s early signing period, the Yellow Jackets hit the practice field at Phil Reeve Stadium in preparation for Friday night’s GHSA Class AAA semifinal game with Stephenson.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Winston — a member of the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen this year as one of the top 12 college football recruits among Chattanooga-area seniors — was among them, smiling and cracking jokes and, yes, preparing to compete in one final game on Hal Lamb Field. It will be only his fourth full game of the season after having knee surgery in the summer to remove a bursa (fluid sac).
He tried — admittedly too soon — to play in the team’s opener, but had to shut it down for proper healing time and rehab, which meant therapy sessions twice a day. Winston suited up for a couple of other games, but again things didn’t feel right, and he had to sit while the Jackets started 1-3.