Plant WR Gallon's D-I dream is reality once again

TAMPA — Moments after signing a letter of intent Thursday with Division I-A Central Michigan, Plant receiver Cornelius Gallon reflected on all that had transpired the past eight months.

"I've been blessed," he said.

On Oct. 27, 2007, one day after injuring his right knee in a game against Chamberlain, Gallon underwent an MRI exam.

The news wasn't good.

Gallon had torn his ACL; his season was over. As he thought about his future, a devastated Gallon couldn't help but cry.

"It was my senior year," he said.

At the time, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Gallon was among the state's leading receivers (he finished his career with 107 catches). He had scholarship offers from Central Michigan and Temple, and more were likely. But soon after the injury, those offers were pulled, leaving Gallon with a most uncertain future.

"He got pretty bad," Plant quarterback Aaron Murray said. "He was like, 'Man, I had a shot.' "

Gallon was down, but certainly not out.

He had surgery in November and before long was working his way back into football shape. Each day after school, he exercised under the watchful eye of Panthers trainer Joel Kennedy, all the while hoping — and praying — he'd earn a college scholarship.

"I've never seen anybody work as hard as Cornelius did," Murray said. "He was in here every day pushing himself."

Central Michigan kept in contact. If Gallon could fully recover, the school told him, it may have a place for him on the team.

"They said, 'We're going to wait and see how the rehab goes,' " Plant coach Robert Weiner said.

Gallon's recovery went better than expected. But as a backup plan, he was accepted by two prominent prep schools. During a trip to one, Gallon ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

"I had never run better than a 4.5," Gallon said. "I didn't know I was going to be that fast."

While on an official visit last week to Central Michigan, the program once again offered him a scholarship, Gallon said. Gallon quickly accepted, then made it official Thursday at the Plant fieldhouse.

In 22 years of coaching, "I don't know if there's anyone I feel more blessed to have been around," Weiner said. "Cornelius Gallon has been our heart and soul."

dt signs with Community College: Plant defensive tackle Jamar Williams signed with Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. Williams registered 154 tackles and six sacks during his Panthers career.