It’s been a busy football offseason for BuddyRow Garrer.
Since he last took the field, he’s found a new team and has made his college football choice. Now, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide receiver and defensive back is regarded as one of Georgia’s top high school prospects, and is looking forward to making his impact felt for the Evans Knights during the 2024 season — which, by the way, is just five weeks from kicking off.
As a junior at Aquinas, Garrer was one of the CSRA’s most productive offensive players. In a new system with coach Barrett Davis, Garrer says he’s excited to see how he can build upon his 2023 success.
In this week’s Athlete Spotlight, we caught up with Garrer and chatted with him about his choice to transfer, why he picked Kent State and how he’s improved as a football player over the offseason.
GABRIEL STOVALL: It feels like school just got out, and we’re already about five weeks away from the 2024 football season. You’re at a new school for your senior year. What made you decide that Evans was the place you wanted to go?
BUDDYROW GARRER: “The reason why I wanted to go to Evans is because that’s where it all started for me. I went to Evans Elementary, Evans Middle, and my brother graduated from Evans [High School], so I just wanted to be back home one last time with the guys I started with. Also, with Barrett Davis being the head coach, he gets guys to go play college, no matter what division. He’s a great coach and a great person.”
STOVALL: Evans loses a few pieces from last year’s team to graduation, particularly offensively, but who are some of the guys you’re working out with this summer who you think are going to turn heads this season?
GARRER: “Our running, Brey Johnson aka “Swamp Monster” has been working all summer. He has put in the work on the field and in the weight room, and he’s going to be really good for our team! Jaden Whisby at wide receiver is a great help to our offense also. He’s a very smooth and quick wideout, and he’s very reliable on the offensive of side. These guys both deserve more looks at the college football level, no matter what division.”
STOVALL: You’ve got one of the top offensive linemen in the nation on your team. What’s it like for you to play with Mason Short?
GARRER: “Me and Mason actually grew up playing football with each other, so playing with him now is like us regrouping back together. He’s a great, high IQ player. His leadership on the field really drives everyone to be great.”
STOVALL: From what you’ve been able to see, and without giving away too many secrets, how do you feel coach Barrett Davis is going to utilize your offensive skillset? What do you feel like you’ll bring to the table for Evans that may be different than last year?
GARRER: “Coach Davis and Coach [Alan] Troutman do a great job with giving the ball to our playmakers. I know for a fact, if you work hard on and off the field, they will find a way to use you on the field. I’m really excited to see how our offense plays out this year.”
STOVALL: You recently committed to Kent State. What made you decide that Kent State was the school for you, and how solid are you with keeping that commitment all the way through signing day?
GARRER: “What made me commit to Kent State was the head coach, Coach [Kenni] Burns. If you know coach Burns, you know how much success he’s had in the past. What he has set up for Kent State is a really good plan. Kent State was the youngest team in college football all around last year. This year, they have a chance to improve and have a better season than last year. I do plan on staying committed throughout signing day, but it’s not what i want. It’s what God has planned for me, so I can’t wait to see how this journey plays out for me.”
STOVALL: In what ways do you feel you’ve become a better player from last year to now, and what have you done differently during this offseason to make those improvements?
GARRER: “This year, what’s making me a better player now is that I’m focusing more on my body off the field. That’s a need in every athlete. No athlete can perform without taking care of their body properly. I’ve been doing a really good job at staying consistent with stretching my body and working on pylometiercis . Also, I’ll say that I’ve been working more in the weight room, getting bigger and stronger for the season. With those improvements, I can’t wait to see how this senior season goes.”
