CLEARWATER, FL - Calvary Christian’s Preston Cushman does everything with purpose when he’s in the gym.
Preston has become a lifting machine throughout his high school football career. But from the start, those big weights were, simply, too big to lift.
“Me being 5’11”, 5’10”, 180lbs, as a freshman, as a sophomore, just small; I mean, this type of weight has been a long time of working,” said Cushman. “Keep grinding because it won’t get any easier when going against grown men in college.”
It’s not all about the weight. Preston has dedicated himself to being a big man who stays in shape.
“He’s shaved his time in his sprint work the last couple years, he’s got his vertical jump higher the last two years, and now that’s what helps him get for that next Power 5 level,” said Calvary Christian Athletic Performance Coordinator Nick Giblin.
Preston isn’t just about improving his work ethic, but the work ethic of everyone around him. If his teammates are better, then the team is better.
“He trains hard no matter what and he always helps us out even though we aren’t as good as a player as him,” said teammate, junior center George Kalantzis. “He always tries to helps us and get up to him.”
Football is more than brawn for Preston.
“Just every little thing you can critique I try to and my coaches do a great job of that as well,” said Cushman while sitting over a laptop filled with his high school highlights.
Football games are won and lost in the trenches. As an O-lineman, Preston studies his opponents every move. It was actually on film where Preston saw his potential as a big time lineman.
“This spring game right here is actually the game where I’m like ‘I can do this’ I can be a big time player with these kids who bleed the same blood,” Cushman said. “That’s something that I’ve really stuck by.”
The belief and hard work paid off. Preston is planning to sign with Ole Miss and their polarizing and brash head coach Lane Kiffin.
“My personality didn’t grab to it, but once you get to build a relationship with a coach they really open up to you,” said Cushman, who will be the first Pinellas County player to sign with Ole Miss since Largo’s Mike Marry in 2009. “Coach Kiffin is that real down to earth guy.”
Preston Cushman didn’t think he’d be good enough to play for a big time coach in a big time conference. But he’s about to do both thanks to hard work and dedication. I guess you can him the Ole Miss Rebel…with a cause.