John Will Continue Education and Baseball Career at Milligan
November 26, 2020
Evensville, TN -- John Combs and two other RCHS seniors recently made comittments for College in a singing ceremony at Rhea County High School baseball field. John signed scholarship papers to attend Milligan before famiy, friends, teammates, coaches and media. John and his teammates are excited also about the opportunity to play baseball this year after their 2020 season was ended by COVID-19 safeguards.
John is the son of J.R. and Dawn Combs. John was very excited to get the opportunity to play baseball at the next level. Milligan University is located in Elizabethtown, Tennessee, right outside of Johnson City. It is a beautiful campus with great facilities.
John answered some questions about his journey to this senior season.
What has been your favorite baseball moment during your time as a baseball career?
"My favorite moment would be when I made the phone call to Coach Barnett to let him know about my decision to commit to Milligan."
What other sports have you played?
"I played football until my freshman year and basketball until my sophomore."
What are your plans after college?
"After attending Milligan and I plan on pursuing a Pre Med degree. Then, after my baseball career ends, whether it be college or pro ball in some form, use my education to get into medical school. Ultimately, I would like to do something in Pediatrics or Sports Medicine."
I talked with John about his love of catching?
"Catching is my favorite postion. I started catching at 11, when team needed a catcher. As catcher I am like the quarterback of the team. I build relationships with the pitching staff. I get to direct people as needed."
"The most difficult part of catching, but also one of my favorites, is knowing how different pitchers work and doing my best to set my pitchers up for success."
Have you made a decision on your walk-up song for this coming season?
"I haven’t yet decided my walkup song for this season, but I know that I want it to be tied somehow to one of my best friends, Landry Jolley, who we lost in June 2020 to suicide. He continues to impact my life daily, and I want to honor him."
Talk about how it has been playing for coach Ray and other coaches over the years and their impact on your life?
"Coach Ray is a hard nosed coach, which I love. He demands our best effort on the field and has high expectations for us off of it. He loves each player individually and is very involved in our day to day lives. I think of him more as a role model than just a coach. I have had a number of great coaches through the years. I am very blessed. To name some: Matt Ronne, Travis Flynn, Anthony Byrd, Steven Hailey, and Chris Goodrich. The most significant to me thus far has been Dalton Martinez. I played for Dalton for two Summers with Georgia Jackets (15u and 16u), and he was the first coach to really get me to play with an edge. He brought out a competitive side in my game that I had no idea existed. We have stayed in close contact over the years, and despite him living 3 hours away and coaching at Georgia State in Atlanta, I know I can turn to him for anything at anytime. I love that guy."
"What are some of your interests outside of baseball and school"
"In my downtime, I enjoy hiking trails, being with friends and family, and being outdoors in general. I am a huge fan of the Braves. "
Do you have any wise words for young players just beginning their baseball and school journey?
"My advice for a young player beginning this journey would be to embrace it. Enjoy the game, love doing what you do, and don’t rush things. Everything happens in time. You will know the right fit when it comes."
"Also, some additional advice that I would have for a younger player would be to surround themselves with people that can help them grow, not only as a player but also as a person. Play with and against the best competition. Find a program that cares about development and will get you seen. Don’t be afraid to not be the best, but challenge yourself to be the best."
Talk about the importance of academics for student athletes and for you.
"Academics are huge for me. Eventually, everyone plays their last inning of baseball, but an education will stick with someone forever. Academics should always be a priority."
Talk about the decision to attend Milligan and the things about Milligan that drew you there.
"As a Christian, Milligan was also a great fit from a spiritual aspect. Milligan has everything I could ever want in a university. The academics are great, the baseball program is trending in a good direction and the coaching staff is building a great team, and the campus is full of likeminded people who want to grow in Christ."
