By Travis Sloat

T’Marius Nolen might only be 16 years old, but as a junior he’s already focusing on more than a win-loss record or how many tackles and yards he gets a game. 

“Having the younger guys around is great,” Nolen said. “I have impacted a lot of young lives and I enjoy giving them advice for when they find themselves in my shoes. I lead by example, giving my efforts on every down and making plays when we’re in tough positions. Even though I can’t make all the plays all the time, I still give 110% effort on every down.” 

Nolen has been playing football since he was six years old, and currently plays outside linebacker and running back for Southeast High School. 

“The reason why I love the game is because it helps with my leadership abilities on and off the field,” he said. “Being a student athlete means I get the chance to impact a lot of lives. I do everything for my family so I feel as I can change my family around.

“My personal goals for this year are to get a little bigger and lift heavier,” he added. “I also want to give back to my community. As a team, we want to build the culture of our program and be a better team in general. We want guys who are willing to sacrifice their bodies on every play.” 

Although the team’s record is just 1-6, Nolen said there are a lot of positives he’s focusing on. 

“Currently we’re working on knowing our jobs and being accountable,” he said. “We just got a new head coach, so we really haven’t gotten that connection yet. But we’re working on it.” 

In his free time, Nolen said he enjoys working out, eating and catching up on film.