Troy University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Tray Eafford
10/13/2020 3:52:00 PM | Football
This story originally appeared in GAMEDAY - Troy's Official Gameday Program
Tray Eafford still remembers the first touchdown he ever scored.
Eafford was in seventh grade, his first year playing football, when he burned the defense by taking a screen pass 45 yards to the house in the first game of the season.
"I just kept telling myself, 'Don't get caught, man. You're fast enough to not get caught, it's time to take it to take it to another level,'" Eafford said. "It's a memory you don't forget, kinda like graduating, it's just so exciting that you don't forget it."
That feeling hasn't changed, even nine years later.
"It never gets old," Eafford said. "In college, we have cameras all over, fans cheering us and it's just such a real moment. I'll never take it for granted."
Eafford found out he was fast the same way most kids do – racing his classmates on the playground at recess.
"I've just always been a fast guy," Eafford said. "I used to just run track, but everyone knew I was gifted so they told me to play football and I started in seventh grade. After scoring in my first game, I knew that I was talented, so I stuck with it and the game just kept getting more fun to me."
The speedster was a star on the track and still holds the Lee County High School record in the 100m with a time of 10.5 seconds. Eafford loved running track, especially because it helped him stay in shape for football. But football offered a path to college, and eventually, a degree.
"I loved track, but colleges offer full scholarships for football and I didn't want my parents to [pay] out-of-pocket," Eafford said. "So, heading into my last year of high school I started doing extra work for football and it paid off."
Troy won out as Eafford's school of choice over other potential suiters such as Southern Miss and Cincinnati.
"Troy just felt like the right fit for me," Eafford said. "The facilities and campus are top-notch and it just felt like somewhere that I could continue to develop."
Eafford showcased his speed while putting together a solid freshman season for the Trojans – he played in nine games, averaged 18.4 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns of 40+ yards – before he suffered a season-ending injury against Arkansas State.
"It was tough because it happened in the last game before the bowl game," Eafford said. "But thankfully I was able to play most of the season and make it back by winter workouts. I had some great people around me to help keep my head on straight."
Eafford continued to embrace his role as a big-play threat in the Trojan offense during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, scoring three touchdowns in both years with his longest receptions registering 60 and 64 yards, respectively.
Entering his final season with the Trojans, Eafford finds himself as a leader, and starter, in a loaded wide receiver room that set the school-record with 11, 100-yard receiving games in 2019.
"Oh man, this group could be really special this year," Eafford said. "We've got a lot of young guys that can play and we've got some guys coming back from injury. I'd say we're about three deep at every position. If anyone gets hurt, the next man can step up and fill those shoes."
Off the field, the wide receiver room is as close as you'd expect them to be.
"We love to play video games together, grill out, watch sports, all that kind of stuff," Eafford said. "We're really close as a group and I think that helps us on the field to hold each other accountable."
Troy will look to rebound after a disappointing 2019 season that was riddled with injuries and setbacks, and the wide receiver core is poised to lead the way.
"Lick the finger, turn the page," Eafford said. "We can't let one season determine what kind of team we really have. We're a different team now and we've put last season behind us. Our goal is to win the championship, that's our goal every year. We have the talent and players to do it, it's just on us to execute."
There is a different energy, a different feeling around the Troy football team in 2020, a shift that should help the Trojans in year two under head coach Chip Lindsey.
"You can tell that guys just want it more," Eafford said. "Guys doing extra work, doing stuff the right way, practicing right, holding each other accountable. We want to win; we want to compete for a championship."
Troy football is back in The Vet. It's time to Defend the Wall.
Tray Eafford still remembers the first touchdown he ever scored.
Eafford was in seventh grade, his first year playing football, when he burned the defense by taking a screen pass 45 yards to the house in the first game of the season.
"I just kept telling myself, 'Don't get caught, man. You're fast enough to not get caught, it's time to take it to take it to another level,'" Eafford said. "It's a memory you don't forget, kinda like graduating, it's just so exciting that you don't forget it."
That feeling hasn't changed, even nine years later.
"It never gets old," Eafford said. "In college, we have cameras all over, fans cheering us and it's just such a real moment. I'll never take it for granted."
Eafford found out he was fast the same way most kids do – racing his classmates on the playground at recess.
"I've just always been a fast guy," Eafford said. "I used to just run track, but everyone knew I was gifted so they told me to play football and I started in seventh grade. After scoring in my first game, I knew that I was talented, so I stuck with it and the game just kept getting more fun to me."
The speedster was a star on the track and still holds the Lee County High School record in the 100m with a time of 10.5 seconds. Eafford loved running track, especially because it helped him stay in shape for football. But football offered a path to college, and eventually, a degree.
"I loved track, but colleges offer full scholarships for football and I didn't want my parents to [pay] out-of-pocket," Eafford said. "So, heading into my last year of high school I started doing extra work for football and it paid off."
Troy won out as Eafford's school of choice over other potential suiters such as Southern Miss and Cincinnati.
"Troy just felt like the right fit for me," Eafford said. "The facilities and campus are top-notch and it just felt like somewhere that I could continue to develop."
Eafford showcased his speed while putting together a solid freshman season for the Trojans – he played in nine games, averaged 18.4 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns of 40+ yards – before he suffered a season-ending injury against Arkansas State.
"It was tough because it happened in the last game before the bowl game," Eafford said. "But thankfully I was able to play most of the season and make it back by winter workouts. I had some great people around me to help keep my head on straight."
Eafford continued to embrace his role as a big-play threat in the Trojan offense during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, scoring three touchdowns in both years with his longest receptions registering 60 and 64 yards, respectively.
Entering his final season with the Trojans, Eafford finds himself as a leader, and starter, in a loaded wide receiver room that set the school-record with 11, 100-yard receiving games in 2019.
"Oh man, this group could be really special this year," Eafford said. "We've got a lot of young guys that can play and we've got some guys coming back from injury. I'd say we're about three deep at every position. If anyone gets hurt, the next man can step up and fill those shoes."
Off the field, the wide receiver room is as close as you'd expect them to be.
"We love to play video games together, grill out, watch sports, all that kind of stuff," Eafford said. "We're really close as a group and I think that helps us on the field to hold each other accountable."
Troy will look to rebound after a disappointing 2019 season that was riddled with injuries and setbacks, and the wide receiver core is poised to lead the way.
"Lick the finger, turn the page," Eafford said. "We can't let one season determine what kind of team we really have. We're a different team now and we've put last season behind us. Our goal is to win the championship, that's our goal every year. We have the talent and players to do it, it's just on us to execute."
There is a different energy, a different feeling around the Troy football team in 2020, a shift that should help the Trojans in year two under head coach Chip Lindsey.
"You can tell that guys just want it more," Eafford said. "Guys doing extra work, doing stuff the right way, practicing right, holding each other accountable. We want to win; we want to compete for a championship."
Troy football is back in The Vet. It's time to Defend the Wall.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballPlayers Postgame (Arkansas State)
Sunday, January 18
Scott Cross Postgame (Arkansas State)
Sunday, January 18
Player Postgame Press Conference (Ashley Baez, Rachel Leggett) - Texas State
Saturday, January 17
Chanda Rigby Postgame Press Conference - Texas State
Saturday, January 17