Tamaris Jamison, a one-year varsity letterer for the PLAS football team, has signed a scholarship to play with Faulkner University.

Jamison said he had been playing football since he was in kindergarten. He said Tuesday he is thankful to see a lifelong dream come to fruition.

“I’m nervous, but I’m excited because it’s something I’ve always dreamed of – to go off and first better myself educationally and then get the chance to play at the next level,” Jamison said. “I’m truly blessed.”

Although Jamison has only spent his senior year at Pike Liberal Arts, he said the coaching staff had pushed him to have the opportunity to play at the next level.

“Pike Lib has been very welcoming,” Jamison said. “I came from Florala, where I’ve been all my life, and came up here to Pike Lib and the community really brought me in as one of their own. I’ve been very blessed to be a part of this community and school. It’s been a very successful year. Coach Hudson told me if I really wanted to go somewhere he would help me and he and the coaching staff really got me to where I really wanted to go.”

Jamison said he will more than likely play defensive end at Faulkner, but says he would be willing to play anywhere on the field the coaches want him.

“I want to push myself to gain 20 pounds and start by my freshman year,” Jamison said. “That’s a really high goal, but I feel like it’s a goal I can reach. It’s going to be a lot of hard work and determination, but I feel like I have a lot of people around me that will fuel my fire to push me to get where I want to go.”

He likely will major in an education field.

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of men to really impact me, not just when it comes to sports but when it comes to being a man,” Jamison said. “I feel like I owe it to other young men coming in that they may need that guidance to push them in the right direction.”

Jamison said he has already taken an official visit to Faulkner, and it already felt like home.

“It’s a smaller college, and campus is smaller so everyone knows each other,” Jamison said. “I was walking with my tour guide and everyone knew him, I’m not going to say I’ll get to know everyone on a first name basis, but I will have a general idea of who everyone is and they’ll know me.”

Jamison also said he wanted to first thank God for the opportunity he has been given, then his coaches, fellow players and family members.

“I want to first give honor to God because without Him I wouldn’t be here,” Jamison said. “I would also like to thank my family who put up with all my crap and help just keep me on my straight path and all the coaches who saw the ability in me and all the players, Marquise Christian, Jeremy James, all those people who wanted to stay after school and get better and help me so we can all make it. I just want to thank everyone and thank everyone for keeping me in their prayers.”