Jernigan’s Journey as an Eagle
Photo provided - Dayton Jernigan has become a stalwart in the trenches for Carson Newman University.
When Dayton Jernigan set foot on campus at Carson Newman, he wanted to prove to everybody a small-town kid could make it at the next level. After three years with the Eagles, he found out it never mattered what his background was - it only mattered if he could handle the work everybody had to put in to get on the field.
Through plenty of grit, some sleepless nights and - most of all - finding faith, Jernigan is in a position to make a huge impact this fall as a starter for the Eagles.
Jernigan’s journey from Warren County - where he was an all-region player twice and only slowed down by an ACL injury during an impressive Pioneer career - to East Tennessee followed the same twists and turns as many kids adjusting to college life. There was the early moment of realization that while out on your own, nobody is there to be your emotional support, followed by the boot-strap moment where Jernigan met a sink-or-swim moment and decided he could handle being thrown into the deep end.
“I didn’t come from a big school or a football powerhouse - I was from a small town and was a big body thrown on the line to move people. What I had to quickly realize - and humble myself - was I needed to improve my game in a lot of ways if I wanted to be a contender for playing time,” said Jernigan. “To be honest, that hurt - man, it really hurt. But nobody in the program has time for me to pout or cry about my problems. I had to go to work.
“What helped me develop the most was understanding that you don’t have to have it all together in one day. The advice I’d give anyone trying to go play college is just grind and work. Do all the right things that are needed - not only for yourself, but for the program. It can be a sacrifice, but it will be worth it.”
Wisdom and work ethic were things Jernigan developed on the gridiron, but off it, he made just as big of a leap. By his first week on campus, Jernigan knew faith was going to play as big of a role in his time in Jefferson City as football.
“College football has been amazing and has taught me lessons and brought me to meet people I will forever stay close to, but - most importantly - college football brought me closer to Christ,” said Jernigan. “Coming into college, I wasn’t the most religious person, but after being around the good folks of Carson Newman, I’ve had the blessing to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in the first week being on campus. The following year, I was baptized in the creek on campus.”
With his faith affirmed, next came the friendships. Jernigan built strong bonds with his position group, leading to some of his favorite moments in college to date.
“My favorite moments in college, there’s way too many to pinpoint one, but if I had to pick only one, it would be the shenanigans and banter me and the o-linemen would get into before meetings,” said Jernigan when asked about the best parts of college ball. “I have laughed harder than I had ever laughed before meetings multiple times and I look forward to those moments every day we have position meetings.”
Once faith and friendships were secured, it was all back to being the best at football. For a guy known for handing out pancakes as part of the famous syrup squad, Jernigan isn’t one to dive into the sweets anymore. To move people in college, it’s no easy task and the Eagles need athletes in the trenches to make things run.
Jernigan has learned to embrace that and turned himself into more than just a big guy pushing people at the next level.
“For our style of offense - the flexbone - linemen have to be the most athletic and hard-working guys on the field,” said Jernigan. “Taking the foot off the gas for one second, whether it’s in practice or a game, could cost me playing time.
“College football is different in many ways. First of all, the pace of play is a night-and-day difference. What stands out to me now is everyone you are playing with or against was a good high school player so the competition is ramped up in all aspects. You better bring your ‘A’ game every rep or you’re going to be called out for it on film.”
That was a lesson Jernigan had to learn the hard way a few times in his early years. He always had the strength necessary to be in the mix from the moment he arrived on campus, but admitted that his position on the depth chart was usually due to miscues.
“It was just maturity - my first two years, I was a backup at guard that was my main role since most of the time I would forget an assignment or two on a play and the coaches didn’t have the full trust in me to start a game,” said Jernigan. “Last season, I actually started the first four games of the season until I suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain. That put me out three weeks and, after returning, I happened to do it again.”
Jernigan got back to full strength by the spring, when he was back in the lineup at right guard and working to keep that position heading into the fall. He’s already hoping his name will get called in Week 1 when the Eagles match up with Tiffin University.
To do it, he’s locking in on his health and maximizing his effort.
“The thing for me to secure my playing time is going to be staying healthy and fighting through small bumps and bruises. Also, and probably most importantly, is staying hungry and playing hard all year long.”
A hungry Jernigan may mean he’ll need a lot more pancakes this fall.
