Why Guntersville offensive lineman Royce Baucom signed with Arkansas State
Guntersville football offensive lineman Royce Baucom will be playing college ball for Arkansas State.
Baucom committed to the Red Wolves back on Dec. 5 during a ceremony at the school and signed as part of the early-signing period. His coach Lance Reese told the Gadsden Times that Baucom will not early enroll with the Wolves.
Baucom earned first team all-area honors from the Gadsden Times and all-state honorable mention honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association after leading the Wildcats to the AHSAA Class 5A state semifinals. Playing for Arkansas State in the Sun Belt will allow Baucom to play games in his home state but at least not his freshman year.
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Why Baucom chose Arkansas State
Baucom chose the Red Wolves over instate Jax State, Troy and other group of five programs. One of the benefits of Arkansas State is that there is a high-level coach there, Butch Jones, the former Tennessee coach. That was one of the things that drew Baucom to Arkansas State but another part was the relationships he formed with Jones and offensive line coach Andy Kwon early on in his recruiting process.
"A really big thing for me is relationships," Baucom said. "...I think Arkansas State is where I had the best relationships. Arkansas State got on me early in my recruiting process this summer and got to make three different trips up there. Coach Jones and coach Kwon especially, we just clicked."
Not only was it the place that Baucom felt he would fit in the best, when his parents made the trip, that's where they thought he would fit in the best as well.
What Arkansas State is getting in Baucom
On the field they are getting a tenacious blocker that handles his own in both run- and pass-blocking situations. Baucom helped pave the way for a 1,500 yard rusher in a run heavy offense as a tackler. He is a versatile player who can play all five spots on the line, and long snap if ever needed, but thinks that he will be used as a guard at the next level.
"I'm kind of a Swiss Army knife, my athleticism is what sets me apart. I run a 4.9 at 310 pounds, that's something not a lot of guys can do," Baucom said.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: What Guntersville OL Royce Baucom brings to Arkansas State
