2010 Commit Tobais Palmer: The Coach's Perspective

This season is Bert Williams' eighth as the athletic director and head football coach at Georgia Military College. Williams has established a dynasty at GMC, and his Bulldogs are respected as a perennial powerhouse within the NJCAA. Since 2009, when Williams took over as head coach, GMC ranks 4th in the NJCAA in wins. In seven full seasons Williams has led the Bulldogs to 3 national championship games, taking the crown in 2001 (GMC was the runner-up in '02 and '05).

Georgia Military College has also developed a little bit of a connection with NC State over the past couple of years, sending defensive linemen Leroy Burgess and Michael Lemon the Pack's way. Currently NC State commit Tobais Palmer is suiting up for the Bulldogs and will enroll at NC State in January. Palmer originally committed to the Pack back in March of 2007, but failed to qualify academically coming out of Northwood high school in Pittsboro, NC. Last season as a freshman at GMC, Palmer compiled 570 yards of total offense and 6 touchdowns (311 rushing and 259 receiving). He is lightning fast, running a 40-yard dash in the 4.2 range. Palmer was hard for opposing defenses to bring down last year, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He has done nothing but increase that average this season, with a gaudy average of 7.54. Through 5 games this year, Palmer has rushed for 377 yards and 7 touchdowns and also reeled in 7 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. When he arrives in Raleigh in January he will have two years of eligibility with a redshirt year available as well (3 for 2).

We caught up with Coach Williams recently and asked him about what type of player Palmer was and what his experience has been coaching him:

On Tobais Palmer...
He's been a fun guy to coach most of the time. Most of the guys that have 'big play' potential are usually all fun to coach. He does some things sometimes that make you catch your breath. He's got a great burst. He's great in the open field. He's an excellent receiver out of the backfield. We actually line him up as a slot receiver a lot of times. He's a good ball player. He's been fun to coach. He's a conscientious young man. He comes ready to work hard every day. He does the things that he needs to do in order to get better.

On how Palmer's time at GBC has benefited him...
I think his situation has helped him grow up a bunch. Last year was a shock for him. He certainly was used to being the talented guy on the field anytime he played in high school. A lot of people come to Junior College and have a mistaken concept of the level of talent that is played. He had the same talent shock that most of our Freshmen have. He had to learn to work hard each and every day and push himself. Learning how to do the dirty work is tough for any skill player coming out of high school, because college football is a much more physical game.

On being a student athlete at GMC...
I think the job we do off the field will help him out a lot as well. The hard nosed responsibility and accountability that we put into all of our guys when they come into our program through the cadet corps and the way we run our football program can be quite a shock. It's a good growing experience and something that will help them be mentally tough on and off the field. They go to bed at 10:30pm every night and wake up at 5:30 every morning. It's a long and busy day. They are held to a very high level of expectation in regards to their behavior, the way they interact with one another, the staff and the people that surround them. It's a high dose of responsibility. They've got to keep their rooms up to a certain standard. They've got to keep their appearance to a certain standard. They do things to develop a good work ethic. Most these guys have never cleaned a locker room before. These guys learn how to value their space. It helps them appreciate things when they take the next step.

Thanks Coach Williams!