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Kyle Lovern

Sports Editor

Belfry all-state football player Tony Messer hopes to take his talent to the next level and he is being recruited by several Division One college football programs.

Messer has gotten letters from Louisville, Kentucky, West Virginia, Marshall and South Florida – just to name a few.

He has already gotten an offer for a full-ride at Eastern Kentucky University. Western Kentucky has also been interested in the 6-foot-5, 235 pound tight end- defensive end. Messer also played linebacker for coach Philip Haywood at Belfry.

“I am getting with my coaches and setting up some visits to some of these schools,” Messer said before a BHS basketball game earlier this week. Messer is also a star on the Pirates’ basketball squad.

“I’ll see if I get any more offers after those visits,” he said.

Messer was recently named first team defense by the Louisville Courier Journal and helped lead Belfry to the Class AAA championship game the last two seasons.

Messer has already taken the ACT and has gotten a high enough score to be accepted by most schools. He may take it again to see if he can achieve a higher score.

Like most kids who grow up in the Bluegrass State, Messer likes the University of Kentucky, but he also likes Louisville and looks forward to visiting South Florida, which currently plays in the Big East Conference.

“Everything is looking good for me right now,” Messer said.

Messer definitely wants to try his hand at the Division One level. Most of the schools have been recruiting him as a tight end, he said.

His high school coaches say he has good hands and is an excellent blocker at tight end. Messer caught 13 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns this season. He caught one TD in the state championship game against Central High of Louisville. Belfry is known as a team that runs the football and does not throw many passes.

“I wouldn’t mind playing defense if that is what they want, but I do love offense,” Messer said.

Messer has also gotten interest from some schools for basketball.

“I love football,” Messer said. “I think I have a good chance at playing D-1 football.”

“I just made my senior highlight tape and I’m sending those out now,” Messer said.

Messer’s future looks bright and local fans should be seeing him play on Saturdays in the coming years.

(Kyle Lovern is the sports editor for the Williamson Daily News. Comments or story ideas can be sent to klovern@williamsondailynews.com or klovern@civtasmedia.com)