John Trousdale could have walked away from the game of football. Few would have questioned the decision. After all, his athletic future was secure.
The Lauderdale County senior committed to play baseball at Alabama on July 9. It was a dream come true for the life-long Crimson Tide fan. Trousdale had the option of stepping away from football to avoid suffering an injury that could risk his collegiate future, a move that many top recruits make. But that route never crossed Trousdale’s mind.
“I didn’t think about it,”he said. “I’ve been asked, ‘Are you going to play football?’ and my immediate answer was, ‘Yes. There’s no question.’
“I’ve played football all my life. I’ve got a lot of friends and my buddies. There was no reason for me not to play.”
And the issue of injury?
“If you think about it, you’ll get hurt,” Trousdale (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) said. “I try not to think about that at all.”
There’s also a family tradition to carry on. Trousdale’s father, Roy, was a junior on Lauderdale County’s 1974 Class 2A state championship team. John is the last son of a player from the 1974 team to play for the Tigers.
FINAL SHOT
Trousdale has been an integral part of the Lauderdale County program, helping the Tigers go 9-3 and reach the second round of the Class 3A playoffs in each of the past two seasons. So his decision to return came as no surprise to head coach Bob Grisham.
“John’s just a winner,” said Grisham, a water boy on the 1974 title team. “These seniors are really close-knit.”
Trousdale’s skills are key if Lauderdale County wants to get over the hump after falling to an eventual semifinalists in back-to-back postseasons. He was a multi-purpose threat in 2014, recording 57 tackles and two interceptions on defense; 22 catches for 463 yards and three scores, two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns on offense; and three returns for TDs.
“Cover territory,” Grisham said when asked about Trousdale’s strengths. “We like him at safety. He covers a lot of ground and he makes a lot of tackles.”
Trousdale had 91 tackles, five picks and four fumble recoveries as a sophomore. He doesn’t have a preference for one particular side of the line of scrimmage.
“I live them both,” he said. “I’m aggressive both ways.”
FIELD OF DREAMS
Trousdale began playing baseball at the T-ball level and picked up football in fifth grade. While he loves the gridiron, his true love is the diamond. Baseball was also the sport where he was being recruited by major programs. He had an offer to play football at Division II Harding (Ark.), and several FCS schools had shown interest.
“I just feel like I’ve worked really hard in baseball,” Trousdale said. “It’s where my heart is. I’ve always loved baseball. It was an easy decision for me (to play baseball in college).
Trousdale, a shortstop, was the Tigers’ leadoff hitter last season and hit .324 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, eight doubles and three triples, while stealing 20 bases in 36 games. As a sophomore, he finished with a .413 average, 10 homers, 49 RBIs, 16 doubles, five triples and 29 steals in 44 games.
Trousdale feels that playing two sports helps benefit his performance in both.
“The aggressiveness,” he said of the similarities. “I think the mental game helped my baseball. Also that transfers over, keeping calm in tough situations. You’ll go through adversity in baseball and football; it kind of transfers and goes together.”
Trousdale plans to sign with Alabama during the NCAA early signing period, which runs Nov. 11-18. But up first is football. Lauderdale County opens the season Aug. 28 at Wilson.
“There was no question that I was going to play football, play with my friends and try to win a state championship,” he said. “And I think we’ve got a good chance to compete for a championship.”
Daniel Boyette covers Huntsville region high school sports for The Alabama Media Group and The Huntsville Times. Write to him at dboyette@al.com.
