Tosin Aguebor is back on the prowl

Tosin Aguebor and the Mercer Bears’ football team were finishing up their preparation for the season ahead. A normal day at practice turned into a nightmare for the defensive captain.

“It was the last practice of fall [last year]. I tackled someone, and I just felt something snap,” Aguebor recalls. “Three trainers carried me off the field, and the next day I had surgery.”

Aguebor’s ankle had snapped, and the recovery time was not short. Aguebor was out for all of his junior season.

As a captain, he explains that it was hard to stand on the sidelines.

“But I cared so much about the team that I knew I had to support them off the field, even though I wasn’t physically capable of playing,” he said.

Once again voted as one of the six captains for the upcoming 2015 season, Aguebor is looking forward to once again competing with his teammates in hopes of snatching the conference championship.

As football season fast approaches, he is fully recovered and, as one of the oldest in the eager group, he is ready to lead the team to their first ever Southern Conference Championship.

“I’m excited to get out there and compete and hopefully win a championship,” Aguebor said.

Not only is he excited for his return, but coaches and teammates alike commend Aguebor for his drive, leadership and playing abilities. If anything, the year spent on the sidelines has increased his drive.

Strength Coach Rodney Hill spoke about Aguebor in a promising tone.

“Tosin has worked extremely hard day in and day out not only to make a return to the field but to be one of the team’s leaders. I have no doubt that his hard work will pay off, and he will be a dominant force on the field.”

“[Tosin] has changed since his injury. He came back with a gleam in his eye. We all know he’s ready to be back on the field.” sophomore running back Tee Mitchell said.

Following a grueling Fall Camp, which Aguebor describes as “highly competitive” due to the vast amount of talent that Head Coach Bobby Lamb recruited for this season, the squad is ready to prove this new program’s dominance in college football.

Not only looking to make a ripple in the southern college football scene but also on a national level, Aguebor said that the team is “ready to execute” on the field.

“We have a lot more depth and experience this year. Fall  Camp was competitive because everyone was competing to be one of the few who can represent the team on the field,” he said.

Aguebor will likely be one of those few, and certainly one of the most influential as he could make a big difference in the quality of Mercer’s defense in the upcoming football season.

“[Tosin] is a major component in our defense,” said teammate Kyle Williams.

Aguebor welcomes the pressure lying on the shoulders of his team.

“We know the whole city of Macon and the school is behind us,” he said. “We owe it to everyone and ourselves to have a good season.”