Bolivar's Briason Mays worked hard to get opportunity to play at West Virginia

BOLIVAR - Look around the gymnasium at Bolivar Central High School, and there are plenty of basketball players that have gone on to play at the NCAA Division I level.

But that hasn't been the case recently in football.

But one goal for native Bolivar resident Briason Mays was to see that streak come to an end.

Mays has signed to play college football at West Virginia next season.

"That was one of my goals coming in as a freshman was to be one of the bigger players to come out of here in a while," Mays said. "My dad was one of them, so that was one of them."

Mays' father played at Bolivar in the late 1980s.

Bolivar head coach Woodrow Lowe Jr. says that Mays has all of the attributes to be an NCAA FBS caliber player.

"Briason has a great work ethic," Woodrow Lowe said. "He came in and played as a freshman our of necessity. Him and Trey Lowe were the last two that have come in and started as freshmen. We have some that play, so they have that maturity level and stature. To be a big time player, you have to have big time size."

MORE: Baseball has helped Bolivar's Lowe in football

Mays agrees with Lowe on how he has improved since his freshman year.

"I feel like I have matured and had physical growth," Mays said. "You step on the scale each day, and you keep getting bigger and bigger. I remember when I was a 200-pound freshman, and now I am 290-295."

And there were some moments during that season that helped Mays realize that things were not going to be easy.

"You learn freshman year that you are not very good," Mays said. "You go into Hardin County and play against Latrell Bumphus. It gives you a dose of reality that you have to work your butt off. I have done that, and that has gotten me to where I am now.

"When you see the results on field, I got a little bit better as a sophomore, and my junior year was my best one yet. So I have worked my hardest my junior year, and it has motivated me for my senior year."

So as he begins this fourth year as a starter for the Tigers, his goals for this year are clear.

"I would like to win a state championship and earn first team all-state," Mays said.

And Mays believes that his team has put in the work during the offseason to be ready for that type of a run.

"Coach Lowe says we work the hardest of any team in the state," Mays said. "If we keep doing what we are supposed to do and not outside distractions get inside, we should be fine."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.