SYLACAUGA, Ala. – In the Sylacauga High School (SHS) Media Center Wednesday afternoon, April 19, the Aggies’ Antoinne Borden, Jr. chose Quincy University in Illinois as his college destination.
Borden, Jr. picked Quincy over 13 other full scholarship offers, although the final decision was between signing with Quincy or accepting a preferred walk-on (PWO) offer with Jacksonville State University.
“It feels great,” Borden, Jr. said about signing. “It was a tough decision. I feel like it’s a step forward because I finally know where I want to go. I thank God, my mom, and everybody that’s supported me up to this moment.”
Antoinne played outside linebacker, strong safety, and running back for the Aggies. At the next level, Quincy’s preference is for him to focus his talents at strong safety.
Quincy won over Borden, Jr. due to a combination of factors that include offering a four-year scholarship, potential early playing time, and the relationship Antoinne’s built with the coaching staff.
The city of Quincy is located in southwest Illinois along the Mississippi River. The university has a enrollment of about 1,500 students.
The Quincy Hawks football team competes in NCAA Division II as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
“I’ve stayed in Sylacauga all of my [life]. I’m going somewhere, I’m stepping out of the boundaries,” Borden, Jr. explained. “To me, it’s an achievement. I’m stepping in my own shoes and making my own name somewhere [else].”
Borden, Jr. shouted out his Sylacauga coaches that have helped him grow both as a football player and as a person, allowing him to make the step to the collegiate level.
“I had a hard time being coachable at a young age,” Antoinne admitted. “I grew up, and I realized that in life, you have to be able to learn certain things that you don’t want to learn.”
