Sticking With the Home Team; Freedom High's Nate Godwin

In an era of high school football where transfers have become the norm, there are still some home team stories out there — kids who stuck with the program.

One of those tales is unfolding right here in New Tampa.

Freedom High School is not necessarily known as a great football school. The team has not made the playoffs or even had a winning record for most of Godwin's career. Godwin is a four-year varsity player, and he remembers Freedom's lone successful season. Under current Jesuit head coach James Harrell, the Patriots went 7-3-1 and made the playoffs.

It would have been very easy for Godwin to look elsewhere after the 2009 season.

"I considered leaving when Harrell did," Godwin said. "It seemed like everything went down the drain."

To make matters worse, the Patriots would have to endure back-to-back losing seasons under head coach Tchecoy Blount. Then, for his senior year, the Patriots would hire yet another head coach in an attempt to turn the struggling program around.

Again, it would have been easy for Godwin to jump ship, perhaps to nearby Wharton where defensive back Vernon Hargreaves has scouts who watch him eat his lunch. This was never in Godwin's plans.

"It was frustration seeing him (Hargreaves) pull in all of those offers," said Godwin. "I guess he goes to more camps than me and they are better overall as a team, but there was a point where I didn't know if I was going to get any offers."

Godwin seemingly did everything for the Patriots last season. He had 43 total tackles, an interception and five passes defended — and that was just on defense. On offense, he carried the ball 58 times for 227 yards and three touchdowns, caught seven passes and even threw two of them.

For a glimpse of perspective, Hargreaves contributed 49 total tackles, two picks, three passes defended and a sack along with 35 carries for 237 yards and seven touchdowns. Hargreaves caught 13 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns as well as making eight pass attempts. The Wildcats went 6-6 and made the playoffs. Freedom went 3-8 and well, didn't. 

The third head coach in four years must have added to Godwin's frustration but he liked what he saw in current coach Todd Donohoe from day one.

"He has a lot of structure to his practices and workouts and he cares about us as individuals not just as athletes," said Godwin.

So Godwin decided to stick it out at Freedom. It turned out to be the right decision.

"Prior to this spring, I had zero offers," Godwin said. "Then everything started to flow."

Godwin now has a total of 16 offers from different schools, including West Virgina, FIU, Iowa State and USF.

"I've always had this drive to bring a good name for a program that didn't have such a good reputation," said Godwin.

"I feel blessed for what I have," he added.