FOOTBALL

Crestview's Stanton earns Dandy Dozen nod

Seth Stringer
sstringer@nwfdailynews.com

CRESTVIEW — Jay Stanton is offering up a little bulletin material.

For his Crestview Bulldogs. For Central and South Florida teams. For rival Niceville.

And for area running backs.

After all, the Dandy Dozen running back is that confident. In both his talent and his team’s.

On St. Augustine, which bounced the Bulldogs two straight years in the playoffs: “We’ll get them this year.”

On South Florida powerhouses like Armwood, Northwestern, Carol City, Miami Central and the slew of programs that have contributed to a 23-year state-title drought for teams in the Daily News’ coverage area: “We’re not worried about them.”

On Niceville: “We don’t like them and we’ll beat them again this year. They better get used to losing to us.”

On being the best running back in the area, which includes Baker’s Junior McLaughlin, Navarre’s Dante Wright, Choctaw’s Reggie Fain and Niceville’s T.J. Pope and Jack White: "Oh, yes sir, I’m the best."

The root of the senior's confidence is an offensive line that returns five starters, including two fellow Dandy Dozen nods. A wide receiving corps that includes the Voisin twins. A defense anchored by safety Marcus Purcell, linebacker Chris Johns and, again, the Voisin twins.

“We have more chemistry this year because the majority of us have played together since we were 5,” Stanton said.

Standing 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Stanton is everything you’d want in a back.

He’s explosive between the tackles with breakaway speed. He sees the field well. He’s strong.

“Jay’s a playmaker,” said Tim Hatten, Crestview’s head coach.

Last year Stanton broke out for 1,086 rushing yards and scored 15 times. In eight of those nine starts he topped 100 all-purpose yards. In five of those starts he had multiple touchdowns.

That included 120 yards and two scores against Niceville, 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Milton, two scores against Choctaw and 136 yards and a touchdown against Fort Walton Beach.

In the playoffs alone he rushed for 383 yards and five touchdowns and caught six passes for 141 yards and two scores over just three games.

This year Stanton expects to build on last year’s breakout.

“I just want to break my last year’s rushing record and touchdowns. Somewhere up there around 1,500 or 2,000 yards sounds about right,” he said.

A big part of that will fall on his experienced O-line, a collection of guys who stand between 6-2 and 6-5 and 270 and 315 pounds.

“I have a lot of faith in them that they’ll make the hole for me,” Stanton said. “Everybody worried about the Voisins, so that opens it up for me.”

How Stanton goes, the offense goes.

“We’re finna break out this year,” he said.

What’s your favorite Disney movie?

Probably "Monsters, Inc."

Who are your favorite actor and actress?

Probably Chris Hemsorth. I like superhero movies and I like Thor. And Scarlett Johansson. She’s beautiful.

Who’s the best player on your team other than yourself?

Like you said, we have a lot of good players. Probably one of the Voisins. I can’t choose. Probably Jaden. That’s my boy.

Who’s the most underrated player on your team?

Probably Diesel, (offensive lineman) Bryson Norris. I believe he should have more offers than he does right now.

What’s the team’s ceiling this year?

State title, no doubt.

Instagram or Twitter?

Instagram. I see more models on there.

Who’s on your music playlist?

GlokkNine. I listen to whatever the whole team plays.

Who’s your team’s biggest rival?

Niceville, without question. We hate them. They hate us.

Rainy day, time to binge on some movies or TV. What are you watching?

Probably “Last Chance U,” but usually I’m playing “Fortnite.”

What’s your favorite home-cooked meal?

Probably fish and grits. Both my mom and dad make it.

Current star in college or the NFL, who do you compare to?

Saquan Barkley. He’s big and fast, so that’s who I’m trying to be.

You win the lottery. What’s the first thing you buy?

Probably a big ol’ house.

You can live anywhere in the world, where do you live?

Hawaii. Those beaches.