Sumpter, Drawhorn to play for Western New Mexico

After their graduation from Fallbrook High School this year, best friends Marquis Sumpter and Kameron Drawhorn will be spending time in Silver City, NM, as members of the Western New Mexico University football team.

Both players signed letters of intent February 4 to play for the Mustangs.

“I’m happy to go to college on a scholarship,” Sumpter said.”It’s a good school and I get to play football with my brother and my best friend.”

In 2008 Sumpter’s older brother, T.J., signed a letter of intent to play football at Western New Mexico; T.J. Sumpter redshirted in 2008 but is expected to play as a defensive back during the 2009 season. The Mustangs also signed 2008 Fallbrook graduate Nick Hayes as a wide receiver.

“I like the school. I like the program, and I know a couple of people who are going there,” Drawhorn said. “I’m just very excited, looking forward to it.”

Drawhorn and Sumpter both moved from Oceanside, although Drawhorn’s move to Fallbrook four years ago was direct and Sumpter spent time in Riverside County in between. Sumpter’s father spent twelve years in the United States Marine Corps and

the family lived in Murrieta and Temecula before moving to Fallbrook in January 2007 to live with Sumpter’s grandparents.

Sumpter, whose organized football began with Oceanside Pop Warner, was on the Murrieta Valley High School freshman team as a ninth-grader and the Temecula Valley High School varsity as a sophomore. Although he did not run track in ninth grade, after moving to Fallbrook he joined the Warrior track and field team as a sophomore and reached the CIF meet in the 200-meter dash.

Sumpter’s junior season saw him earn second-team Avocado League honors for his football performance. During the 2008 track and field season Sumpter qualified for the state meet in both the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter run after placing third overall in both events at the CIF San Diego Section meet.

At the 2008 section finals, Sumpter set school records in both events; he was clocked at 21.63 seconds for the 200-meter dash and 48.30 seconds for the 400-meter race to supplant Mike Robinson’s 1986 times in those events. At the 2008 Avocado League meet Sumpter’s time of 49.03 seconds won the open 400-meter event and he anchored the winning 4x100 relay team.

“He’s a very gifted athlete, one of the purest runners I’ve ever been around as a coach,” said Fallbrook High School head football coach Joe Silvey.

Sumpter’s senior football season produced first-team Avocado League recognition and second-team all-CIF distinction.

“I believe that I played all the sports to the best of my ability,” said Sumpter.

In addition to his athletic activities, Sumpter is also involved at Faith Temple Christian Center.

As the oldest of three siblings, Drawhorn is the first of his family to play Fallbrook High School sports. Drawhorn’s youth sports career centered on soccer rather than football. The 14-year soccer veteran began his play with American Youth Soccer

Organization competition and then continued with the Oceanside Breakers.

Because the club soccer season conflicts with high school football, Drawhorn did not participate in club competition over the past three years but spent four seasons with the Fallbrook High School soccer program. The soccer forward was on the Warriors’ junior varsity as a freshman and sophomore and has been on the varsity for the past two seasons. He received honorable mention Avocado League status for the 2007-08 soccer season.

Since Western New Mexico University has neither track and field nor soccer, Drawhorn and Sumpter will be playing football only for the Mustangs.

Drawhorn did not play football until tenth grade. “I wanted to play football,” he said. “I just never really got into it.”

Drawhorn tried out for Fallbrook High School’s football team in 2006. “My sophomore year I really wanted to play football,” he said.

He made the junior varsity squad in tenth grade and spent his final two years as a cornerback on the varsity.

“He was a very versatile player for us,” Silvey said. “He’s a very talented and versatile athlete.”

“I felt like this team really bonded together,” Drawhorn said of the 2008 Fallbrook High School football squad. “Win or lose every player went out and played their hardest.”

Drawhorn didn’t participate in all of those games. During the scrimmage prior to the first regular-season game he broke his collarbone and missed the next six games.

“He was determined to get back as fast as he could,” Silvey said.

The detached clavicle kept Drawhorn off the field but not away from the practices and games. “I wanted to be there for my teammates,” he said.

Bill Atkins and Dr. Robert Pace aided Drawhorn’s rehabilitation and put him back on the gridiron. “My injury really taught me a lot,” Drawhorn said. “When I came back I was very focused and determined to up my skill level and become a better football player.”

Western New Mexico is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The Mustangs play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Sumpter was also considering Portland State, but the opportunity to play with his brother as well as with his friends tilted his decision to Western New Mexico. “I won’t be there by myself,” he said.

“I think he’ll have a great college career, make a lot of plays and have a lot of fun out there with his brother,” Silvey said. “I’m sure that they’ll expect him to be making a lot of plays as soon as he steps on campus.”

Western New Mexico head coach Bernie Busken prefers to redshirt true freshmen if possible but also believes in playing the best players available. “Being able to run like he can run, he can probably help us,” Busken said of Sumpter.

“T.J. is a great kid and does a great job,” Busken said. “We really like the whole family, and just glad to have them together.”

Drawhorn was also considering Azusa Pacific and Cal Lutheran.

“We’re glad to have Kameron. His broken collarbone during the season hurt him, but we think he has a tremendous upside as an athlete,” Busken said. “We’re really looking to upgrade our athleticism on defense in the secondary. I know he can do that.”

“We’re happy that he has his opportunity and excited to see what might happen,” Silvey said.

“We’re excited to have him, and we look for great things out of him,” Busken said.

The Mustangs begin their 2009 season at home September 5 against Sul Ross State University.

“Got a good little connection there with Fallbrook High School, and we hope they keep sending them our way,” Busken said.

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