Black To Play Football At Friends University

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Trey Black (front row, center) recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Friends University in Wichita, Kan. Front row, left to right: Kelly Black (dad), Trey Black and Kristie Black (mom). Back row: MCHS football coaches Craig Collins, Sean McCullough, Kellen Hoover and Chris Kane.

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS Trey Black (front row, center) recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Friends University in Wichita, Kan. Front row, left to right: Kelly Black (dad), Trey Black and Kristie Black (mom). Back row: MCHS football coaches Craig Collins, Sean McCullough, Kellen Hoover and Chris Kane.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

For the past two years, Trey Black has been a stalwart on defense for the McDonald County High School football team.

But, come this fall, instead of anchoring the defensive line for the Mustangs, Black will be playing for the Falcons of Friends University in Wichita, Kan.

Black signed a letter of intent to attend Friends on National Signing Day (Feb. 7) in front of family and friends at MCHS.

"It feels great to sign to play college football," Black said. "I am really excited to go on and play at the next level."

Black was third team all-conference and all-region this past season while being named the Mustangs' Defensive Lineman of the Year.

He said he was not recruited by Friends, but contacted the school after researching schools with good academic programs in his planned field of major.

"I looked up what I want to major in, which is zoology, and it turns out they have the number two program in the country," Black said. "I contacted the coach by email and sent him a video and my academic record. They got in touch with me and we talked for about three months before I committed."

Black toured the campus just two days before signing his letter.

"The campus was really nice and all the players were welcoming and the coaches were really nice," Black said. "I am really ready to strap it up this fall."

Black has played football for a total of 10 years, most of those in Colorado before he transferred to McDonald County in his sophomore year.

"I have only been here for three years, but I love it here," Black said. "It is a great community and everyone welcomed me like I had lived here my whole life."

As a senior, Black played for head coach Kellen Hoover in his first year at McDonald County.

"For us, Trey was a big part of our defensive line," Hoover said. "Aside from the postseason accolades he earned, he was one of our best leaders. He kind of took the whole defensive line and just showed them how to work day in and day out. I remember at camp this year, he gave our offense the best look we could have imagined. With him right across from our starting right tackle, he made it really hard on us to move the ball. He made us a lot better and he did not have to do that. He took ownership in that and said, 'even though this is scout team, you are still not going to move the ball.' He got better doing that and so did our offense. That's just the kind of leader Trey is, and Friends is lucky to get him."

As much as he meant physically to the football team, Black's character and personality were just as important.

"He's a joy to have around," Hoover said. "He always makes it fun, but when it is time to go to work, he knows that. He wasn't a rah-rah guy, but he would lead by example. But when something needed to be said, he would say it and that would make it mean more. If Trey is saying something, you had better listen because it doesn't happen very often. Most of the time it is just put your nose down and go to work, but he knew how to lead and what it took to get the message across."

Black is the son of Kelly and Kristie Black. He also plays first base and designated hitter for the MCHS baseball team, as well as being a member of the powerlifting team.

Sports on 03/08/2018