Dynamite Dozen: Dougherty’s Ga’marcus Freeman is a multi-sport leader

ALBANY — Ga’marcus Freeman might be one of Dougherty’s defensive leaders, but he isn’t always throwing ball carriers to the ground.

Freeman’s spring activity — the thing that keeps him from sitting around, he says — involves throwing of a different sort, throwing that involves a 12-pound sphere instead of a 14-to-15-ounce football.

He works with that heavier ball quite well. Freeman qualified for the state finals in the Class 3A shot put, one of 16 athletes in his classification to compete last May at Hugh Mills Stadium.

“I had a lot of fun at the state meet,” Freeman said. “We had a lot of things we had to do, and we got it done. It was a fun experience.”

As he was participating in state track competition, Freeman was also going through a transformation as a football player.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound rising senior moved from defensive end to middle linebacker, tasked by incoming head coach Damien Gary to become the leader of the Trojans’ defense.

Freeman, who had 19 tackles for loss and 12 sacks last season is a 2018 Albany Herald Dynamite Dozen selection.

“He played with his hand down last year,” Gary said. “He made the transition this summer, and it’s been a match made in heaven. We’re excited to see how he continues to progress and make plays for us.”

After recording 94 tackles up front last year, Freeman will have more field to cover this fall.

While the mechanics between playing defensive line and middle linebacker are different, Gary said Freeman is adjusting well.

“It can be tough for some,” Gary said. “He’s been used to having tunnel vision on certain things, but we felt like with his athletic ability and speed and range, if we just put him in the middle, he can go sideline to sideline. So far it’s been good, and we’re excited to see where it takes us.”

The move also allows the program to tap into Freeman’s leadership skills.

“He has an unbelievable work ethic,” Gary said. “He does everything we ask him to do. (The work ethic) has been very contagious; it’s rubbed off on some of the other guys. He’s been a great leader by example.

“He’s someone who has been in the fire. He can corral the troops when adversity hits, lead by example and continue to play through the ups and downs of the flow of the game.”

Freeman has bought in.

“They look at me to be the leader, the defensive leader on the team,” he said.