Division III Week Student Spotlight – Heath McCray

This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the fifth-year event.

Division III Week, which runs from Monday through Sunday, is intended to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments as well as the campus leadership and community service efforts of Division III student-athletes.

As part of Huntingdon College's participation in Division III Week, six student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Heath McCray is today's featured student-athlete. 

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant

Name: Heath McCray       

Year: Senior  

Hometown: Ashford, Ala.  

Major: Business   

Career Goals: Wants to become a college football coach

Sport: Football / Men's Lacrosse

Athletic Accomplishments:  McCray has been an All-Conference, All-Region and All-American defensive lineman for the Huntingdon football team. He helped lead the football team to its first conference championship and first playoff win this season. This past season he finished with 39 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.

Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: McCray has been a member of the business and accounting club. He has also been the mascot, Hank the Hawk, as well as being one of the biggest supporters of Huntingdon athletics.

What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "It felt just like my high school. It's small and everyone gets along here. My mother told me about the school so I transferred in after a year-and-a-half at Marion Military Institute."

What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "It feels like everyone is a big family. You can talk to anybody at anytime about anything and you feel like you know that person no matter what."

How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Academically, I have to work my tail off. I have to put a lot of effort towards my classes where at some schools it might be easier. Athletically, I was expecting it to be easy, but I have played with a lot of guys who just love the game, and they give everything they have. It's a lot of fun and more challenging than what people think."

What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "This past season of football. We won conference, won a playoff game and competed in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. I was named an All-American as well which was great."

As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "Coming in I thought it would be easy. Now, I know the level of competition is a lot higher and there is a lot of talent in Division III."