Bell County senior Sam Brown signed on Friday to run track at Transylvania University.

Brown will be running short sprints for the Pioneers track team.

“It’s a once in a lifetime thing. Not many people get to be college athletes,” he said. “I’m blessed beyond anything.”

Bobcat track coach Jason Stewart said Brown stands out for his commitment to the process of getting better.

“His sophomore year I saw the potential in him and he’s used these three years to really grow that,” Steward said. “He’s a hard worker. He’s self-motivated and he’s really good at the 100 and the 200. He’s smart about how to get up on the blocks and wait for the gun, then Boom! He’ll take off with no hesitation and run that good time.

“He’s a hard-nosed kid and if he has a bad race he’ll shake it off and come right back and have a good race. I think those are qualities that colleges are looking for in these kids. It’s hard to win a meet, but he’s a kid that win or lose he’s going to give you that same effort every day.”

Brown said he chose Transy because “it’s a great school and I know they’re going to offer me a good education. That’s really what I’m worried about is getting a great education.”

Brown plans to major in Biology.

“I just hope that when I’m done with school and everything that I can live a great life and provide for my family the way they did me,” he said. “I appreciate Bell County.”