Valdosta High School was searching for a leader among last year’s offense as it has to replace its senior quarterback and several offensive linemen who also graduated in 2013. With three classmates competing for the position, the VHS coaching staff began to take notice of junior Cole Massingill. As the summer progressed and the young QB took more snaps, he began to find his rhythm. Massingill looked comfortable in the pocket, and his passes were accurate.
He played seven on seven games throughout the summer, and he felt confident in his ability to lead and score points. But the young man’s hopes were crushed before the season started. On the first day of school, he tore his ACL and had to undergo knee surgery. His season ended before the scrimmage, and after what seemed like a lifetime of preparation, his time on the field was suddenly in peril.
Cole Massingill’s football career began with pads and helmets at the age of six. “I never played flag football,” he says, “I started straight with the big boys.” Working under center may seem like a natural fit for the Valdosta QB to anyone who knows the Massingill family as he is a second generation quarterback. His father, Brian Massingill, played for Tift County in the early 80s. In fact, he led the Blue Devils to the 1983 state championship and was named an All-State player that season. In addition to his state championship ring and All-State status, the elder Massingill went on to play for the University of Florida. As a Gator, he enjoyed some successful seasons, as well.
However, in the beginning, the son did not set out to follow in his father’s footsteps. He was tall, over six feet by twelve years old, and he admits he was somewhat lanky and awkward. He was shuffled around the offense until his seventh-grade year when the starting QB for the middle school Cats was injured. The coach asked if anyone would like to play, and Massingill decided it was time to continue the tradition. From there, he says his dad began spending more time working on timing and technique, and the natural talent quickly became apparent.
Now, the Valdosta athlete is ready to step out of his father’s shadow and forge his own history of triumphant Friday nights. As a senior, Massingill’s goal is nothing less than bringing home a state title and wearing a ring of his own to compare against his father’s 31-year-old keepsake. “Of course I expect a ring,” the quarterback said. “But mostly I just want us to play well and compete as a team. Especially with the amount of talent we have, I think we could win a championship this year.”
Still, the young man has a lot to prove after sitting out for an entire season. He admits that he feels a certain level of pressure leading up to his final season as a Wildcat, but he is confident in his ability, and he believes in his team. He says his knee healed quickly, and after playing for a Valdosta baseball team that finished in the Elite eight this spring, he has no doubt that he can perform.
According to the quarterback, “The mentality itself never changes. The separation challenges you because you have to count those hours of rehab. My knees have to get back into the swing of things. You have to know that you can come back and perform at the same level as your teammates. It’s a long road, and you have to be really mentally tough to do it because you had a whole year taken away from you.”
Valdosta Head Coach Rance Gillespie plans to run a pro-style up-tempo offense for the Wildcats this season. So, Massingill expects to have ample opportunities to air the ball out and prove his worth. While the running game is bread and butter for most South Georgia offenses, Valdosta hopes to utilize the passing game and keep the defense spread out.
Two factors are working in Massingill’s favor though: he can still nail a target anywhere on the field, and he has a slew of experienced receivers like Craig Barry, Ricco Ramsey, and Khalil McClain returning with anxious hands. Now that he’s back in the saddle for his senior season, the Wildcat QB feels like he’s back among his brothers. This team has played together since middle school. They trust each other. And after a somewhat lackluster season in 2013 with only two region victories, perhaps they all have a little chip on their shoulders as their final high school season approaches. Massingill said, “We’ve all played together for a long time, but there is definitely a different vibe from this time last year. As a team, I think we’ve come a long way in a short while. Now we’re hungry.”
Favorite Pro Team: Oakland Raiders
Favorite Player: Johnny Manziel
Favorite Subject: Psychology
Least Favorite: Math or Science
Superpower: Super speed because I need it
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Costa Rica
If you had $1 million, what would you spend it on? I’d spend it on anything I want.
Player Spotlight / South Georgia / July 2014
Cole Massingill
Valdosta High School
Valdosta’s Massingill Hungry for Wins after Losing a Season to Knee Injury
